The National Anti‑Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) announced plans to tighten controls on illegal sand winning after a recent enforcement sweep exposed severe environmental damage in parts of the Greater Accra Region, according to Adomonline. The operation revealed that unregulated sand extraction has stripped large tracts of land, prompting urgent calls for action.
The crackdown uncovered widespread land degradation, with excavated pits and eroded riverbanks threatening both ecosystems and nearby settlements. Officials warned that the unchecked removal of sand could exacerbate flooding and undermine agricultural productivity, raising alarm among communities already coping with the fallout of illegal mining.
NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf told JoyNews the secretariat would work with the sector ministry to review existing regulations and introduce immediate interventions. He stressed that the revised framework must be implemented “quickly and immediately and instantaneously” to stop what he described as an act of “environmental terrorism”.
Schandorf linked illegal sand winning to the broader menace of illegal mining that has already ravaged Ghana’s environment. He warned that the country “simply cannot afford” another crisis, noting that authorities are working “assiduously around the clock” to recover from past devastation.
Community concerns and police response
Local residents of Afienya voiced their frustration during the operation, telling JoyNews reporter Stephen Mensah that the sand‑winning activities have disrupted livelihoods and damaged homes. Their testimonies highlighted the need for swift government response to protect vulnerable communities that depend on stable land and water resources for farming and daily life.
Sege District Police Headquarters Commander Daniel Dan Yaro called for tighter collaboration between the Minerals Commission and security agencies to enforce the new rules. He urged a “professional” approach to avoid excesses and ensure that frontline officers understand the rationale behind enforcement actions.
Speaking to JoyNews, Yaro said, “Indeed, I would say we need to do things professionally to avoid excesses so that at least those who are in the forefront can also understand the basis for this enforcement. Nobody should be intimidated. And once we collaborate, we understand the basic principle of this activity,” and added, “So I want to reiterate that let's see the Minerals Commission collaborating effectively with the security agencies so that we can all together assist to ensure that we bring this activity of illegality to the barest minimum.”
NAIMOS expects the forthcoming revised measures to strengthen enforcement and halt further land loss. By aligning the sector ministry, Minerals Commission and police, the secretariat aims to safeguard Ghana’s environment and prevent another “environmental crisis”. Stakeholders hope the new framework will restore confidence among communities and demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s natural resources.
