The Lands Ministry has indicated that individuals impersonating National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) personnel may be behind the reported involvement of the anti-galamsey task force in the fatal shooting of a young man at Akyem Hemang in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region.

Media Relations Officer at the Ministry, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, said NAIMOS had no personnel deployed to Akyem Hemang or its surrounding areas at the time of the incident.

His comments follow the reported shooting to death of Douglas Acheampong on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The incident reportedly occurred at about 7 PM, with the deceased allegedly shot at close range.

Initial claims linked the shooting to NAIMOS personnel.

Mr Schandorf, however, said no NAIMOS operation had been conducted in Akyem Hemang or its wider jurisdiction in connection with the incident.

He said impersonation of NAIMOS personnel had become a major challenge, with some individuals allegedly wearing military uniforms and identifying themselves as members of the task force.

“More often than not, a lot of people parade as NAIMOS operatives. It’s one of the challenges that NAIMOS is currently confronted with, where people adorn themselves in military uniforms and identify themselves as NAIMOS personnel,” he explained to Citi FM.

Mr Schandorf also rejected suggestions that NAIMOS personnel could have been responsible for the fatal shooting, stressing that taking human lives does not form part of the task force’s mandate.

He urged the public to distinguish between genuine NAIMOS personnel and individuals allegedly impersonating members of the task force, saying such acts risk undermining public confidence in the Secretariat and creating a false impression about its operations.