The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has conducted a massive dawn operation at Osino in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region, leading to the arrest of 36 illegal miners, including Nigerians.

The swoop, carried out in the early hours of Saturday, 8 November 2025, targeted several sites along the Birim River and surrounding forest reserves believed to have been taken over by illegal miners, commonly known as galamseyers.

A similar operation took place in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, with NAIMOS conducting a firm strike at Akango and the surrounding communities on Thursday, 6th November 2025.

NAIMOS taskforce’s coordinated operation across Evalue Gwira, Agbanzie, and Bameigo communities following intelligence reports about Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining activities that had caused extensive farmland destruction and severe pollution of nearby water bodies.

In the case of the Osino in the Fanteakwa South District, NAIMOS officials disclosed that the suspects include 32 Nigerien nationals and four Ghanaians, who were caught engaging in unauthorised mining activities using heavy equipment and makeshift washing plants.

The operation, executed with the support of armed security personnel, followed weeks of intelligence gathering on the resurgence of illegal mining in parts of the Eastern Region, despite ongoing government efforts to clamp down on the menace.

In a statement, NAIMOS indicated that the suspects are currently in custody, assisting with investigations and will be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for further processing, particularly those found to be in the country illegally.

Preliminary assessments by the task force revealed extensive environmental damage to farmlands, riverbanks and vegetation in the Osino enclave. Several excavators, water pumps, and other mining equipment were seized and impounded.

The latest arrests come amid renewed concerns over the involvement of foreign nationals, particularly from neighbouring West African countries, in Ghana’s illegal mining operations.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to restoring affected lands and ensuring strict enforcement of the law to protect the country’s natural resources.

“This operation is part of a broader strategy to reclaim degraded areas and to send a strong signal that illegal mining, whether by locals or foreigners, will not be tolerated,” a NAIMOS spokesperson said.

NAIMOS has vowed to intensify surveillance and enforcement exercises across mining-prone regions in the coming weeks as part of its nationwide campaign against illegal mining.

At Evalue Gwira, the taskforce discovered three (3) excavators concealed in the bush after the illegal miners were tipped off by locals. The equipment was swiftly immobilized by removing three (3) control boards to prevent further use.

A search of makeshift wooden structures serving as living quarters for the illegal miners led to the confiscation of several items, including five(5) standing fans, one(1) freezer, three(3) batteries, one(1) fridge, one(1) dish warmer, three(3) control boards, and three(3) cylinders. The temporary structures and their contents were set ablaze to prevent the illegal operators from returning.

The team later advanced to Agbanzie but could not access an active illegal mining site on the other side of the River Ankobra due to a lack of life jackets and boats. At Bameigo, a Chinese mining firm was inspected, and after verification with NAIMOS headquarters, its operations were confirmed to be legitimate.

The Director of Operations at NAIMOS commended the taskforce for their professionalism and persistence, noting that parts of the Ankobra River have begun to regain their natural clarity thanks to the continuous presence of NAIMOS operatives and the Blue Water Guards, who conduct periodic patrols along the river.

He described the mission as a strong signal that the Secretariat’s fight against illegal mining is yielding results. “Every successful operation reclaims part of our future,” he said, reaffirming NAIMOS’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment and natural resources.

Despite the success, the operation highlighted logistical challenges, including a lack of boats and life jackets, which hindered access to illegal mining across the Ankobra River. The Secretariat has therefore called for immediate support to equip its teams with the necessary tools to sustain river patrols and operations in hard-to-reach areas.

No casualties or injuries were recorded during the mission.

The latest success at Akango adds to a growing list of NAIMOS operations that have disrupted illegal mining networks across the country, reinforcing the Secretariat’s reputation as Ghana’s leading force in safeguarding the nation’s lands and rivers.

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