Lands Minister pays tribute to fallen NAIMOS soldier Collins Agyapong Safo
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has paid tribute to the late Lance Corporal Collins Agyapong Safo, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) soldier who lost his life in the line of duty on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
Collins Agyapong Safo, who was serving as a Private at the time, died following an accident in Obuasi during a sanctioned NAIMOS operation.
Speaking to mourners on Friday, December 19, the Lands Minister conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family, describing the soldier’s death as a devastating loss not only to his relatives but to the entire nation.
At a solemn burial service held at the Arakan Presby/Methodist Church at Burma Camp, the Minister noted that Collins’ passing remains a painful loss to President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and Ghana as a whole.
He further assured that government would remain resolute in its fight against illegal mining, pledging to continue the battle against galamsey in honour of the fallen soldier and others who have died in the course of the national campaign.
Also paying tribute, the Director of Operations at NAIMOS, Colonel Dominic Buah, described Collins as warm, disciplined, and full of promise.
In an emotional tribute, Colonel Buah revealed that he personally trained Collins and expressed satisfaction that their professional paths crossed again when the young soldier was later deployed to NAIMOS.
Amid visible grief, the NAIMOS Director of Operations reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to intensifying efforts against what he described as environmental terrorism, in honour of the late soldier.
Meanwhile, Collins, who held the rank of Private at the time of his death, was posthumously promoted to Lance Corporal. The announcement was made by military command during the burial service on Friday.
The military explained that the late soldier had already met the requirements for promotion prior to his passing.
Government also presented an undisclosed donation to the family as a gesture of commiseration, in recognition of a soldier who, according to his colleagues, showed immense potential.
Source: Lands Ministry
