The former member of parliament for Bekwai, Joseph Osei-Owusu, commonly known as Joe Wise, has cast doubt on the NDC government’s illegal mining (galamsey) fight.
Joe Wise boldly claimed he has so far has not seen any fight against galamsey.
According to Joe Wise, his own personal cocoa farm has been devastated by galamsey activities.
Speaking to the media, Joseph Osei-Owusu stated, “So far, I have not seen any fight; my constituency is next door to one of the busiest in terms of galamsey. My own personal cocoa farm, I visited there about two weeks ago and have never seen as much devastation before.
The last time I was there was about a year ago. When I went back recently, it had quadrupled; every space along the road is mined. I don’t see any activity of anybody preventing or stopping anybody”.
He added, “Nothing is happening in the areas that I am in; sometimes I find it funny for those of us sitting around Accra and theorising, I think they should go out onto the ground and visit the places”.
In related news, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has revealed the staggering potential financial scope of the anti-galamsey effort.
According to the Lands Minister, a comprehensive fight against illegal mining could cost the nation an estimated $10 billion.
The Lands minister is quoted by 3 news to have said, “The fight against galmsey could cost $10 billion”.
Meanwhile, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force has rounded up several illegal gold miners (galamseyers) at the Cape Three Points forest reserve.
According to reports, NAIMOS stormed the Cape Three Points forest reserve and arrested several galamseyers and also destroyed mining equipment and drugs.
The galamseyers’ makeshift structures were also burnt.
This follows NAIMOS’ operation on illegal miners (galamsey) in the Western North and Western Regions.
NAIMOS arrested two Chinese nationals and intercepted several Burkinabè workers in separate anti-galamsey operations.
Additionally, NAIMOS stormed a notorious galamsey hideout named ‘Gangway’ at Aboso in the Western Region.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of Government Communication, the operation was carried out on Monday, October 5, 2025.
In a post on X, he wrote, “The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force has carried out a significant operation in the Western Region, targeting notorious galamsey hideouts.
On Monday, October 5, 2025, the Task Force stormed “Gangway,” a crime-infested community in Aboso, Prestea-Huni Valley District.
-Makeshift Structures Destroyed*: Several makeshift structures serving as hideouts and drug bases were set ablaze, and galamsey equipment was destroyed.
-Hundreds Surrender: Several hundred locals, mostly galamseyers, surrendered to the Task Force. These individuals were involved in various social vices, including illegal mining, trading, and narcotics smoking, as well as gambling.
-Drugs Seized- Eleven parcels of Indian Hemp were seized, alongside other hard drugs.
– Previous Warnings Ignored: This operation follows a similar one in June 2025, where NAIMOS warned criminal gangs and galamseyers to vacate the area. Despite this, the warnings were ignored.
Watch the video below:
So far I haven't seen any fight against galamsey… – Joseph Osei-Owusu (Former MP, Bekwai)#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/1ASc5Nfjtn
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) October 21, 2025