A member of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat was shot and injured during a routine anti-galamsey operation in the Dormaa Central Municipality of the Bono Region, authorities have confirmed. The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, along the Subinkurom-Kyeremasu stretch, an area known for illegal mining activity.
According to an official statement released by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, armed individuals hiding in the bushes opened fire on the NAIMOS task force when it came into view. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, one NAIMOS officer was hit in the thigh. He was rushed to St. Matthew Catholic Hospital in Ampenkuro, where he was receiving treatment at the time of reporting and was responding to care.
During the exchange, one of the attackers was also shot. Authorities identified him as Abuu Ibrahim, who was later pronounced dead on arrival at the same hospital where the injured officer was taken.
In response to the incident, the Lands Ministry reiterated that the violence would not deter the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining in the country. The ministry acknowledged the growing risks faced by officers on the frontlines of the anti-galamsey campaign and called on stakeholders and local communities to continue supporting enforcement efforts.
Illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey in Ghana, involves unregulated mineral extraction that has been linked to environmental degradation, pollution of water bodies, and damage to farmland. The government has repeatedly characterised it as a threat to the environment and longstanding natural resources, and has sought to strengthen enforcement measures through inter-agency collaboration and community engagement.
Recent years have seen a series of escalations in enforcement operations and responses from local mining communities, with some operations encountering armed resistance. Authorities have warned that measures to protect enforcement personnel are being reviewed and strengthened in high-risk areas.
The ministry’s reaffirmation of its commitment to the anti-galamsey fight comes amid these tensions. It said it will press ahead with initiatives to safeguard the country’s forests, rivers, and farmlands against illegal mining and called for continued cooperation from traditional authorities, community leaders, and civil society.
The shooter’s death and the officer’s injury underscore the dangers that enforcement teams face in confronting illegal mining activities, but government officials have stressed that ongoing operations will not be suspended as a result of armed attacks.