NAIMOS Denies Involvement In Akyem Hemang Shooting

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has denied reports linking its personnel to the shooting and death of a young man at Akyem Hemang in the Eastern Region.

The denial follows a publication by Neil Nii Kanarku on Citi Newsroom, also carried on GhanaWeb on August 28, 2026, which alleged that NAIMOS personnel were involved in the incident.

In a press release dated August 28, 2026, NAIMOS described the allegation as false.

"The attention of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has been drawn to a publication... which alleges that NAIMOS personnel were involved in the shooting and death of a young man at Akyem Hemang in the Eastern Region. NAIMOS wishes to state categorically that the allegation is false. The Secretariat did not conduct any operation at Akyem Hemang or within the area in question, and no NAIMOS personnel were deployed within that jurisdiction at the material time," the statement said.

The Secretariat clarified that its operations are centrally coordinated and authorised, and are carried out in collaboration with recognised security and intelligence agencies including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, the Bureau of National Intelligence and the Narcotics Control Commission.

NAIMOS expressed concern that such a serious allegation involving loss of life was published without verification, saying it is irresponsible and has the potential to create hostility between communities and security personnel and undermine the fight against illegal mining.

"NAIMOS therefore strongly condemns the false attribution and calls on Citi Newsroom and any other media organisations that have carried the allegation to immediately retract the report, correct the record and issue an appropriate apology to NAIMOS," it added.

The Secretariat cautioned that the activities of persons in uniform or any anti-illegal mining operation not authorised or sanctioned by NAIMOS must not be automatically attributed to it, stressing that the mere presence of uniformed personnel at a location does not constitute a NAIMOS operation.

It assured the public that its personnel remain professional and committed to protecting Ghana's water bodies, forests and lands from illegal mining, and appealed to the media to verify information before publication.