Accra: The growing rumours surrounding a possible reshuffling of the Operations Director of National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS), Col Dominic Buah, have become deeply worrying to many Ghanaians who genuinely care about the fight against High-Tech Galamsey (HTG) and the environmental future of the country. At a time when illegal mining has evolved into a sophisticated and destructive national security threat, this is not the moment to disrupt leadership that is beginning to restore public confidence in the anti-galamsey campaign.
According to Ghana Web, the past years have seen Ghanaians witness successive efforts against galamsey collapse under the weight of political interference, weak enforcement, selective justice, and compromised leadership. Under the previous NPP administration, the illegal mining menace expanded into many forest reserves and water bodies despite repeated promises to stop it. What began as ordinary galamsey gradually transformed into a phenomenon now widely described as HTG, an organized and heavily financed operation deploying advanced machinery to destroy the environment at an alarming rate.
Today, several rivers remain polluted, forests continue to disappear, and vast farmlands have been reduced to lifeless wastelands. In many communities, access to clean water has become increasingly difficult because of the activities of illegal miners. This environmental destruction poses a threat to public health, food security, livelihoods, and national survival.
The Mahama administration must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, where political calculations override competence, discipline, and commitment. The nation cannot afford another era where environmental destruction flourishes under the watch of the state while a few powerful interests benefit from the suffering of the majority.
The work of Col Dominic Buah and the NAIMOS team deserves recognition and reinforcement rather than disruption. Since assuming leadership, the team has demonstrated operational focus, transparency, and urgency, unlike previous anti-galamsey campaigns characterized by rhetoric. The regular press briefings and quarterly updates provided by the team have helped restore some level of public trust in the state's commitment to confronting illegal mining.
Col Buah has publicly demonstrated the courage expected from a commander leading a difficult national assignment. His firm declaration that NAIMOS is deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches against illegal mining operators reflects an understanding that the galamsey menace can no longer be treated with half measures. HTG has become an organized assault on Ghana's ecological stability, and no serious nation should tolerate such destruction without a firm and uncompromising response.
Any attempt to reshuffle Col Dominic Buah at this critical stage will inevitably raise public concern and suspicion. Many Ghanaians will question why a commander perceived to be producing results should suddenly be removed in the middle of an intensified national operation. Others may suspect that certain interests, uncomfortable with the renewed anti-galamsey efforts, are attempting to weaken the fight by influencing leadership changes within NAIMOS.
These concerns cannot simply be dismissed, as public confidence in the anti-galamsey campaign remains fragile. The Mahama administration must protect the credibility of its environmental governance agenda. Once the perception of political interference enters the anti-galamsey fight, public trust erodes rapidly.
President Mahama has a historic opportunity to distinguish his administration from the failures of the past. Ghanaians expect seriousness, consistency, and courage. They want to see a government prepared to defend the national interest even when powerful individuals are affected. The current NAIMOS leadership should be empowered with stronger logistical support, improved intelligence coordination, adequate funding, and sustained political backing to continue the fight against HTG.
Environmental restoration is a long-term national responsibility requiring continuity in leadership and clarity in purpose. Constant disruptions only weaken momentum and embolden criminal networks. As a climate advocate and a concerned Ghanaian, the appeal is to President Mahama to keep Col. Dominic Buah and the NAIMOS team intact. Ghana's environmental crisis has reached a dangerous stage, and this is not the time for avoidable experimentation or politically motivated reshuffling. History will remember those who defended Ghana's rivers, forests, and lands when they were under attack. President Mahama must stand firmly behind the NAIMOS team to demonstrate that the fight against HTG is a genuine national priority.