The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), has intensified its nationwide offensive against galamsey, striking decisively at Akango and neighboring communities in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region.
In a well-coordinated operation on Thursday, November 6, 2025, the NAIMOS taskforce raided several illegal mining camps across Evalue Gwira, Agbanzie, and Bameigo communities following intelligence reports of Chinese nationals engaging in unlawful mining activities that had devastated farmlands and polluted nearby water bodies.
At Evalue Gwira, the taskforce uncovered three excavators concealed in the bush after illegal miners allegedly received advance warning from local informants. The heavy-duty machines were swiftly immobilized by removing their control boards to prevent further use.
A further search of makeshift wooden structures, which served as living quarters for the miners, led to the seizure of several items, including five standing fans, one freezer, three batteries, one fridge, one dish warmer, three control boards, and three gas cylinders. The structures, along with their contents, were set ablaze to deter the illegal operators from returning to the site.
The team then proceeded to Agbanzie, where they encountered challenges accessing an active mining site across the River Ankobra due to the lack of boats and life jackets.
At Bameigo, the taskforce inspected a Chinese-owned mining firm, which, after verification from NAIMOS headquarters, was confirmed to be operating legally.
Speaking after the operation, the Director of Operations at NAIMOS commended the taskforce for their professionalism and determination, noting that sections of the Ankobra River have started regaining their natural clarity due to sustained patrols by NAIMOS operatives and the Blue Water Guards.
“Every successful operation reclaims part of our future,” he stated, emphasizing the Secretariat’s unwavering commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
Despite the success, the operation exposed logistical challenges, particularly the inadequate supply of boats and life jackets, which hampered full access to illegal mining sites across the river.
The Secretariat has therefore appealed for immediate logistical support to enhance river patrols and operations in hard-to-reach areas. No casualties or injuries were recorded during the exercise.
The Akango raid adds to a growing list of successful NAIMOS operations that have disrupted illegal mining networks nationwide, reinforcing the Secretariat’s reputation as Ghana’s leading force in safeguarding the nation’s lands and rivers from environmental destruction.