The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has stepped up its offensive against illegal mining, recording significant progress along the Ankobra River as sustained patrols force operators to abandon equipment and retreat from key hotspots.
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) continues to make steady gains in the fight against illegal mining, following intensified patrols along the Ankobra River aimed at protecting Ghana’s vital water resources.
On Friday, April 10, 2026, between 0900 and 1620 hours, NAIMOS personnel conducted extended and aggressive patrol operations along the river and its surrounding communities as part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on galamsey activities.
Field observations during the operation indicated a noticeable decline in illegal mining on the river—an outcome largely attributed to the sustained and visible presence of the task force on the waterway.
The patrol covered several known illegal mining hotspots, including Prestea, Maham, Banso Bio, Cocoase, and Gwira Wiaso, where enforcement efforts have been intensified in recent weeks.
During the exercise, the team detected ongoing illegal mining activities involving approximately six “changfan” machines mounted on the river. The machines were connected to water pumps drawing water directly from the Ankobra River and discharging polluted wastewater back into it—an environmentally destructive practice that has long threatened aquatic life and potable water sources.
Upon sighting the approaching task force, the operators fled the scene, abandoning their equipment in an attempt to evade arrest.
NAIMOS personnel retrieved two water pumping machines along with their connected hoses. In line with operational protocol, the equipment was destroyed on-site by burning to prevent reuse.
Further along the patrol route, particularly between Cocoase and Gwira Wiaso, the task force encountered additional groups of illegal miners actively working on the river. Their equipment was also seized and destroyed as part of the crackdown.
Officials say the continued retreat of illegal miners from the Ankobra River signals growing pressure from sustained enforcement actions, although they caution that operations will not be relaxed.
NAIMOS reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural resources, emphasizing that the fight against illegal mining remains a top priority. The Secretariat pledged to maintain relentless patrols and expand its operational reach to ensure that all affected water bodies are safeguarded.
The ongoing operations form part of a broader national strategy to combat galamsey, restore degraded environments, and secure clean water sources for communities that depend on rivers like the Ankobra for their livelihoods.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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