A task force member of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) was shot and injured during an anti-galamsey operation in the Bono Region on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The incident took place along the Subinkurom-Kyeremasu stretch in the Dormaa Central Municipality when the NAIMOS team came under sudden attack from armed assailants.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Lands on the same day, the assailants, who were hiding in the bushes, opened fire upon sighting the anti-galamsey team, triggering an exchange of gunfire.
One NAIMOS officer sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh during the confrontation. He was rushed to St. Matthew Catholic Hospital at Ampenkuro, where he is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition and responding well to medical care.
In the course of the shootout, one of the attackers, identified as Abuu Ibrahim, was also shot. He was taken to the same hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
NAIMOS reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to intensifying operations against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, despite the persistent threats and attacks on its personnel.
The Secretariat called on all stakeholders, including communities, traditional authorities, and the general public, to continue supporting its efforts to eradicate illegal mining activities and safeguard the country’s forests, water bodies, and other natural resources.