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Mahama Allocates GH¢100 Million to NAIMOS, Orders Destruction of Illegal Mining Equipment

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President John Dramani Mahama has announced a major boost in funding and logistics for the fight against illegal mining, revealing that government has allocated GH¢100 million to the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) to intensify its activities this year.

Speaking during a Presidential Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations, the President said the initial allocation is expected to support ongoing operations, with the possibility of additional funding later in the year.

“This year, we are giving NAIMOS GH¢100 million to continue their activity, and I have assured them that they should start with that,” he said. “If during the year we think that they need more money at the mid-year review of the budget, we will allocate some more money to NAIMOS.”

President Mahama, however, acknowledged critical logistical gaps hampering the effectiveness of the anti-galamsey fight, particularly on water bodies.

“There are some things they don’t have. They lack equipment, especially for policing the water bodies. Sometimes you see them in canoes with outboard motors, and sometimes they even have local people paddling them to fight the menace on the rivers,” he noted.

To address the challenge, the President disclosed that government has approved the procurement of specialised patrol boats to enhance surveillance and enforcement along rivers heavily affected by illegal mining.

“The Minister of Finance, who is also acting as Minister of Defence, has approved a budget for them to bring in new patrol boats that are designed for patrolling rivers,” he said.

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, President Mahama referenced the vast stretches of rivers affected by galamsey, stressing the need for more efficient equipment.

“Take a river like the Pra, which is about 120 kilometres long—you can imagine what distance those fishermen’s canoes can cover in terms of patrolling,” he explained. “So they are bringing purpose-built boats that can travel far in riverine areas.”

He added that the boats will be deployed to both the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces to support NAIMOS operations on water bodies.

According to the President, the security agencies have been given firm instructions to take decisive action against illegal mining equipment wherever they are found.

“The directive is that any chamfan machine they find, whether on the river or on land, they should destroy it,” he stressed.

President Mahama further revealed that enforcement efforts are already underway, with daily operations targeting illegal mining activities across the country.

“I get the videos every day, and I can share them with you—every day they are burning and destroying chamfan machines,” he said.

The renewed investment and operational strategy form part of government’s broader efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, protect water bodies, and restore degraded lands.

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Investigative Journalism Under Siege as Corruption Becomes the New Normal – Nana Kwadwo Jantuah

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Veteran journalist Nana Kwadwo Jantuah has raised concerns over the state of investigative journalism in Ghana, arguing that widespread corruption is making wrongdoing appear normal to the public.

Speaking on the challenges facing the media via a zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s Digest show, Jantuah said society has become so deeply affected by corruption that many questionable actions are now accepted by the masses without scrutiny.

According to him, powerful individuals often prioritize money above integrity, creating an environment where “every foul means” is used to accumulate wealth.
He also weighed in on recent comments by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) General Secretary, stating that while the official’s position is correct, some journalists are likely to oppose the move and criticize him for allegedly failing to meet what they describe as accepted professional standards.

Jantuah warned that investigative journalism is increasingly under pressure, stressing that journalists committed to exposing corruption must remain steadfast despite criticism and resistance.
He maintained that protecting ethical journalism is essential to safeguarding accountability and strengthening Ghana’s democracy

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Canceling Zoomlion Contract Was Reckless and Unsubstantiated – Andy Kankam Slams Government Over Accra Flood Crisis

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Managing Editor of the Informer, Andy Kankam, has strongly criticized the government’s handling of the recent flooding in Accra, describing the decision to terminate Zoomlion Ghana Limited’s sanitation contract as “reckless and unsubstantiated.”

Speaking on the aftermath of the devastating floods on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Kankam argued that the government’s response has failed to address the root causes of the disaster, insisting that the GHS150 million allocated for flood-affected communities is inadequate.
According to him, the President should have consulted engineers and technical experts before announcing relief measures to determine the cost of expanding drainage systems and creating effective flood channels, rather than relying on political decisions.

He also questioned the process that led to the release of the relief funds, asking what consultations were undertaken before the government approved nearly GHS200 million for flood victims.

Kankam further lamented the worsening sanitation situation in the capital, claiming that heaps of refuse remain uncollected because Zoomlion no longer has a contract to clean parts of the city.

He challenged authorities to identify which company currently has the capacity to replace Zoomlion’s nationwide sanitation operations, arguing that the contract termination has contributed to choked drains and poor waste management.

The media executive maintained that flood prevention requires long-term engineering solutions and effective sanitation management, rather than emergency political interventions after disasters occur.

By Maurice Otoo

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Ghana Armed Forces to Deploy Troops and Engineers for Nationwide Flood Recovery Operation

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The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will launch a nationwide operation to desilt major drains, rivers, and waterways in response to the severe floods that affected various regions of Ghana on June 28 and 29, 2026.

This initiative is part of the government’s flood recovery and mitigation efforts aimed at restoring damaged infrastructure and reducing the risk of future disasters. Military personnel, engineering units, and specialised machinery will be deployed to clear blocked drainage systems by removing silt, refuse, fallen trees, abandoned vehicles, collapsed structures, and other debris that obstructs the free flow of water.

At a press briefing in Accra on Friday, July 3, the Director General of Joint Operations at the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, stated that the initiative aims to reopen critical drainage channels and enhance public safety in flood-prone communities. He emphasised that roads, bridges, drains, and waterways clogged with debris would be cleared to restore normal movement and strengthen the country’s resilience against future flooding.

Brig. Gen. Okae-Yeboah also mentioned that authorities may remove buildings and other structures that have been illegally constructed within waterways or those deemed to pose an immediate danger to lives and property. He clarified that such actions will be taken in accordance with existing laws and in collaboration with the relevant civil authorities.

He urged individuals occupying drainage reserves and environmentally protected areas to cooperate with officials throughout the exercise to ensure its successful implementation.

The operation will be carried out through a coordinated effort involving several state institutions, including the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Health Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The government anticipates that this exercise will improve drainage systems, restore critical public infrastructure, and minimise the impact of future flooding across the country.

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