Officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has handed over 100 water pumps seized from illegal mining operators to the National Service Authority to support irrigation farming across the country.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Director of Operations at Naimos, Colonel Dominic Buah said, the move forms part of a broader strategy to ensure equipment seized from illegal mining activities is put to productive national use instead of being destroyed.
“These pumping machines are from different areas, predominantly from the water bodies. So Naimos is active on the ground, we are focused and we are poised to ensure that our water bodies become clearer,” he said.
Col Buah further described the intervention as a victory for agriculture and environmental protection.
“NAIMOS together with the Blue Water Guard are doing a marvelous job out there. I think that we’ve constantly been feeding you with operational issues. Rivers like Ankobra since 28th of February this year, we’ve been on with daily operations. Ankobra is over 1900 km, so imagine when you are going on it a day, about 4 hours they go, you come back. There are chanfans immersed on the water, you have to cut them, remove the metal chassis and things like that…,” he said.
According to NAIMOS, the pumps are expected to be used to support irrigation activities on 30,000 acres of farmland under the National Service Authority’s farming program, with 20,000 acres dedicated to maize cultivation and 10,000 acres for tomato farming.
Receiving the equipment, Director General of the National Service Authority, Ruth Seddoh described the intervention as timely and critical to expanding food production this farming season.
She explained that the project forms part of the broader government’s FEED GHANA initiative, aimed at strengthening food security, reducing reliance on food imports, and creating employment opportunities for young people, particularly national service personnel.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
