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The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 30 illegal miners in a series of coordinated operations across the Western and Western North regions, including the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, as part of an intensified nationwide clampdown on illegal mining.
The arrests, which took place between October 5 and 9, add to the over 1,500 individuals apprehended at various illegal mining sites across the country this year. Among those arrested were two Chinese nationals believed to be key financiers of the galamsey operations.
During four major operations within the week, NAIMOS seized significant quantities of mining equipment and contraband. The items included six excavators, 65 water-pumping machines, seven chanfang machines, 14 mobile phones, 28 wraps of Indian hemp, and a Toyota Land Cruiser. Cash amounting to GH¢10,200 was also retrieved from two mining sites.
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At a media briefing in Accra, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, reaffirmed the government’s determination to root out illegal mining and restore Ghana’s degraded forest reserves and water bodies.
“We will take every measure to protect our land and water resources, and nothing will stop us,” he declared. “Ghanaians deserve to see action, and that is exactly what NAIMOS is delivering.”
Director of Communications at the Ministry, Mawusi Ama Mawunyefia, described the recent arrests as “just the tip of the iceberg,” noting that more intelligence-led operations are planned. She said the Attorney-General’s Department is preparing to prosecute the suspects under the country’s mining laws.
To speed up the judicial process, she revealed that the government plans to establish specialised courts to fast-track mining-related cases. “The bill has been approved by Cabinet and will be laid before Parliament when the House reconvenes later this month,” she added.
NAIMOS conducted three major crackdowns at Gangway (Aboso) along the Ankobra River, the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in Jomoro, and the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve.
In Gangway, armed operatives torched dozens of wooden structures that served as bases for illegal miners, drug peddlers, and gamblers. “The raid sent hundreds fleeing or surrendering as thick clouds of smoke rose above the settlement,” Ms Mawunyefia recounted.
Along the Gwira Eshiam–Anyinase stretch of the Ankobra River, a joint operation with the Nzema East Blue Water Guards uncovered extensive dredging and river diversion activities. Over 100 makeshift shelters were destroyed, along with seven chanfang machines and 23 pumping machines.
The most dramatic phase occurred in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, where two Chinese nationals were intercepted. A fully operational galamsey site disguised as a community mining project was uncovered. Authorities seized four excavators, two heavy-duty water pumps, and a Land Cruiser. Investigations suggest the two suspects were major financiers working under a questionable concession reportedly issued by a local chief.
On Thursday, NAIMOS stormed the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, arresting 28 illegal miners and confiscating several pieces of mining equipment. The operation exposed severe forest destruction, further underscoring the environmental toll of galamsey.
Ms Mawunyefia stressed that while enforcement remains a priority, the government is also working with large-scale mining companies to allocate parts of their concessions for responsible cooperative mining schemes to provide sustainable livelihoods for affected communities.
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