The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has carried out an impressive operations in six (6) endemic mining Regions in the country.
The operations were conducted from Monday 27th of July 2026 to Sunday 2nd August 2026 in Western North, Western, Ashanti, Ahafo, Savannah and Eastern Regions.
“During the reporting period, operations were concentrated along the Ankobra, Bia, Torya, Tano and Butre rivers in forest and riverine areas around Enchi, and at the reclaimed mining sites in the Desire Forest Reserve, the Birim River and the Tepa-Goaso District”
According to the NAIMOS Secretariat
“Intelligence-led joint operations led to significant seizures of illegal miners operations logistics”
As part of the operations, on 29th of July 2026, NAIMOS arrested eight (8) suspects at Sikaniasem.
They included Luo Xiaoqiang, 47 years, Fuxue Qiang 48, two (2) Chinese nationals and Lushao Adam 29 years, Razak Alhassan, 24 years, Abdul Majeed Dauda, 26 years, Bilal Yakubu, 18 years , Mangel Yankey , 19 years and Iddrisu Alhassan , 26 years, all six being Ghanaians.
In the process, the troops seized one (1) excavator, one Toyota Land Cruiser, one excavator monitor, one generator, three (3) motorbikes, nine (9) water pumps, and one single-barrel twelve (12) gauge shortgun.
The troops also destroyed fourteen (14) water pumps, seven (7) chanfang machines, four (4) generators and five (5) makeshift structures used to support illegal mining activities.
“The Task Force conducted extensive reconnaissance at Dadieso, Sefwi Ahibenso, Sefwi Dwenase, Kramokrom, Adjakaa, KKB Village and surrounding cocoa farms, generating valuable intelligence on planned illegal mining activities.
These patrols confirmed evidence of prospecting and test excavations and identified potential financiers and collaborators supporting illegal mining operations.
However, community members were generally reluctant to provide information for fear of intimidation and reprisals by illegal miners” NAIMOS said in the weekly report
The operations carried out in the area also exposed financiers behind the destruction.
They included Nana Osei Bonsu, Ezana Kasei Awudu and Emmanuel Amoah.
In the Western Region, the Task Force stormed Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mpohor, Ellembelle on 29th July 2026 and arrested nineteen (19) Ghanaians as suspects and they were handed over to Esiama Police Station for further investigations.
Personnel also recovered one hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) Ghana cedis from one of the suspects Isaac Amponsah.
Items seized also included one excavator, 3 excavator control boards, 3 excavator monitors, 1 excavator starter, 1 pump action shortgun, 19 cartridges and 2 water pumps.
The troops also seized 29 chanfang machines, 26 water pumps, and 27 makeshift structures used in support of illegal mining.
On 30th July 2026, the Task Force invaded Asankragua, Breman, Oda, Kwabeng, Samreboi, Kwakukrom general areas in Wassa Amenfi West District .
Although upon spotting the troops, suspects bolted, but items were seized at the various sites.
They included, seven motor bikes, 2 water pumps, and 2 batteries while one excavator was rendered inoperable by removing its electrical components.
“The Task Force further destroyed 5 chanfang machines 6 water pumps, 5 makeshift structures used in illegal mining activities.
In the Ashanti, Ahafo, Savannah and Eastern Regions, thirteen (13) suspects were arrested and handed over to various police stations for strict enforcement of law, bringing the total number of suspects arrested to forty (40)
“An Intelligence-led operation at Kadadwen on 30th July 2026 resulted in the seizure of one Zoomlion excavator, one white Zonda pickup vehicle, two heavy duty generators, two power display units , two power unit control systems, four heavy duty batteries, one chainsaw, one drilling machine, a toolbox, one stabiliser, one power cable, electrical switches and buckets of grease, all associated with illegal mining activities.
“The seized excavator and generators were handed over to the Wassa-Simpa Police Station while the remaining exhibits were deposited with the Western Regional Police Headquarters in Tarkwa for investigation”
END