NAIMOS Task Force dismantles galamsey operations in Fanteakwa South; seizes excavators

NAIMOS intensified its Eastern Region anti-illegal mining operations on December 6, 2025, delivering one of the most decisive blows yet to illegal mining networks operating along the Birim and Ayensu river corridors.

From pre-dawn hours until late evening, the NAIMOS task force swept through Akwadum, Ayigbe Town and Ankaase Osino in the Abuakwa South and Fanteakwa districts, dismantling active sites and disabling heavy machinery used in the destruction of forest reserves and vital water sources.

The operation opened at Akwadum, where officers moved in on an illegal mining site located close to the Birim River. Five (5) excavators were secured during the raid.

Three of the excavators were loaded onto low-bed trucks and transported under armed escort to Accra, while two others were immobilised on site to prevent further use. The action immediately brought mining activity in the area to a halt and sent operators fleeing into the surrounding bushland.

At Ayigbe Town, near the fire service area, NAIMOS officers encountered another active illegal operation. Two excavators were rendered useless through the removal of their control boards and monitors.

In addition, officers confiscated diesel fuel and two industrial pumping machines that were feeding water into processing pits.

Makeshift accommodation and processing shelters at the site were torn down and set ablaze, effectively eliminating any chance of rapid re-establishment by the operators.

The task force then advanced to Ankaase Osino in the Fanteakwa District. At this location, a site caretaker identified as Awini Yahaya claimed the operation belonged to a person known as Victor and alleged affiliation with Extra Gold Mining Company Limited.

However, no valid documents were produced to support this claim. NAIMOS officers seized a tributer identification card presented at the site, along with two pumping machines and an unregistered black Toyota Land Cruiser found within the concession area.

Subsequent inspections of previously targeted locations revealed the evolving tactics of illegal miners. At Nsutem, excavators left immobilised during earlier operations had been clandestinely removed by their owners, highlighting how operators exploit gaps in enforcement windows.

Further reconnaissance showed that although some miners had abandoned their sites due to sustained pressure, others remained active less than a mile from the Birim and Ayensu rivers, continuing to dig deep pits and flooding large tracts of land for gold washing.

Across multiple locations, NAIMOS documented severe environmental degradation, including excavation fields spanning approximately six acres and pits more than eight feet deep, all filled with contaminated water.

Officers also confirmed a recurring tactic in which operators remove excavator components or move machines to roadside locations upon receiving tip offs, hoping to evade confiscation.

Despite these challenges, the sustained presence of NAIMOS has begun to change the landscape. Illegal activity along key river stretches has sharply reduced, and field assessments indicate that continued pressure could lead to significant water quality recovery within the coming months.

Technical officers attached to the operation advised that future immobilisations should include the removal of fuel pumps, in addition to control boards and monitors, to make it physically and financially difficult for operators to retrieve and relocate machines.

Throughout the day, NAIMOS operatives maintained firm control of the operational areas under central guidance, reinforcing their reputation as the driving force behind Ghana’s national effort to defend forests and water bodies.

Their actions on Day Three resulted in the seizure or disabling of excavators, the destruction of multiple illegal structures, and the confiscation of key logistical equipment, marking another clear victory in the fight against environmental crime.

As operations continue, NAIMOS has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining momentum until illegal mining networks are permanently dismantled from the Eastern Region.