On Thursday, the NAIMOS taskforce, currently conducting operations in Ghana’s Western Region, carried out large-scale raids on illegal mining (galamsey) sites within the Ahanta West Municipality.
At approximately 7:30 a.m., the taskforce targeted an illegal mining site at Agonakrom, where miners were operating in a stream flowing into the Hwin River. During the raid, several water pumps and pipelines in and along the stream were destroyed by fire.
Later, around 9:25 a.m., the team raided a site known locally as “Agenda 111” in Mpohor and surrounding areas. The site, located about 200 meters from land earmarked for a hospital under the Agenda 111 project, had miners blocking sections of the Butre River within a palm plantation. Upon sighting the taskforce vehicles, the miners fled the scene.
At the Mpohor site, the taskforce seized and immobilized two Sany excavators by removing their monitors and control boards, as well as three water pumping machines. Explosives found on-site were safely disposed of by an explosive expert attached to the team. Additionally, several makeshift structures, old water pumps, hoses, and changfan machines operating in the river were destroyed.
Subsequent operations included raids on the residences of the illegal miners, where authorities seized:
7 pump-action guns
12 BB cartridges
1 unregistered gray Toyota Hilux
3 water pumping machines
1 control board
1 32-inch television
3 radios
Further enforcement operations were conducted along the Butre River and in Mpohor Fiase, resulting in the destruction of more makeshift structures and mining equipment. The taskforce observed that many mining sites had already been abandoned due to its presence in the area.
NAIMOS has pledged to extend its operations across Ahanta West and neighboring districts to ensure that water bodies are protected from illegal mining activities.
