National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has officially resumed its aggressive enforcement drive in the Eastern Region to dismantle the persistent networks of illegal mining.
The specialized task force launched a series of high-intensity raids targeting operators who have encroached upon vital forest reserves, farmlands, and critical water bodies.
This latest phase of the crackdown underscores a strategic shift toward “securing the region’s waterways and road corridors,” with the task force vowing to sustain an offensive presence until the ecological integrity of the area is restored.
“The Task Force will intensify the current offensive in the Eastern region against illegal mining activities to ensure that the positive gains observed with some river bodies in the Region is sustained. We are focused on protecting our forests, farms, and roads from this menace. Our presence will be felt wherever illegalities persist along these critical corridors.”
Elikem Eric Kotoko, Deputy CEO, Ghana Forestry Commission
The weekend operations led to the uncovering of significant illegal mining hubs in the Atiwa West District, specifically within the Mampong and Sankubiase enclaves, where the Asu-kawkaw and Subi Teyam streams were being heavily exploited.
Upon the task force’s arrival, several miners fled into the dense vegetation, abandoning heavy machinery including Sany and XCMG excavators, motorbikes, and high-capacity water pumping machines.
In a decisive move to prevent the immediate return of these “environmental predators,” NAIMOS officials immobilized faulty equipment by detaching vital electronic components such as control boards and monitors, while functional excavators were seized and transported to Accra for further investigation.
Tactical Neutralization and Equipment Seizures
The operational precision of the NAIMOS team was evident during the raids at Akyem Tweapease and along the Nkurakan-Abomoso road.
Despite the “viral spread of the task force’s presence” which allowed some suspects to evade arrest, the team successfully neutralized the capacity of the sites by destroying two heavy-duty multipurpose water pumping machines found channelling toxic residue directly into the Asu-kawkaw stream, a major tributary of the Birim River.
This specific intervention is critical, as the stream had reached “massive levels of pollution” due to the direct discharge of mining waste. In total, the operation resulted in the seizure of four excavators and the immobilization of several others, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to the use of heavy machinery in unauthorized zones.
Strategic Impact on National Anti-Galamsey Goals
From an extractive industry perspective, these raids represent a vital component of the government’s broader strategy to eliminate illegal mining and transition toward regulated, sustainable practices.
By targeting the “logistical backbone” of galamsey operations specifically the excavators and water pumps NAIMOS is effectively raising the cost of illegal entry into the sector.
Experts suggest that such intelligence-led “swoops” serve as a deterrent to financiers who provide the capital for these environmentally destructive ventures.
Furthermore, the focus on tributaries like the Subi Teyam and Asu-kawkaw is essential for the long-term recovery of the Birim River, a primary water source for thousands of Ghanaians.
Sustaining Environmental Gains
As the Secretariat intensifies its operations, the focus remains on the “sustainability of gains” made in previous months.
The Deputy CEO of the Ghana Forestry Commission, Elikem Eric Kotoko, emphasized that the current offensive is not a one-off event but a “continuous monitoring exercise” to ensure that cleared areas are not re-occupied.
This systematic approach combining field raids with the permanent removal of equipment to Accra is designed to break the cycle of “cat-and-mouse” maneuvers that have historically plagued anti-galamsey efforts.
The Forestry Commission continues to work in tandem with NAIMOS to safeguard the nation’s “green gold” and aquatic resources for future generations.
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