You have the right to defend themselves – Armah-Kofi Buah tells NAIMOS officers

Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has told officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) that they are entitled to defend themselves against people involved in illegal mining.

In a video shared on X on 27 October 2026, the minister said those engaged in illegal mining were dangerous and could attack security personnel involved in efforts to stop their activities.

He described illegal mining as a cancer affecting Ghana and said soldiers deployed to combat it should protect themselves regardless of the circumstances they faced.

“You saw how dangerous some of these folks are, and let me commend our patriotic soldiers,” Armah-Kofi Buah said.

“You have my complete instruction: you have every right to defend yourself. If anybody decides that they will stand in your way, you have every right to defend yourself.”

The minister said he remained confident that Ghana could defeat illegal mining, adding that he was prepared to pursue those operating behind the destruction of the country’s forests and water bodies.

He said protecting those natural resources was essential to the wellbeing of future generations, including their access to clean air and water.

“But we will win this fight because our children and the next generation must live,” he said.

“And we have a responsibility to live in this protected forest that gives us air, that gives us water for the next generation. We are not stopping. We are coming to get you wherever you are hiding in the deepest forest.”

Armah-Kofi Buah said the government’s efforts would continue until the sources of Ghana’s water and the country’s forest reserves were protected.

“Because we are determined to protect our forest. We are determined to protect the source of our water. We are determined to protect the source of our health, our environment,” he added.

“This is a fight for every well-meaning Ghanaian. It’s a fight for our lifetime. And we will win.”

A separate headline associated with the NAIMOS operation stated: “No more changfans on Ankobra River thanks to NAIMOS” – Paa Kwesi Schandorf.