Accra, Ghana — The National Inter-Ministerial Operation Support (NAIMOS) task force successfully disrupted illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, along the Ankobra River yesterday, Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The extensive operation took place in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, specifically targeting illegal activities along the Ankobra River, Kamei Stream, and the community of Abrodiem. The details of the successful raid were disclosed by government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu on his social media platforms, highlighting the government’s continued commitment to eradicating the environmental scourge caused by galamsey.
During the raid, the task force seized or destroyed a significant amount of equipment integral to the illicit activities. Key items neutralized included one excavator, seven chanfangs (locally fabricated dredging vessels), and a substantial eighty-eight water pumping machines seized from the sites. Beyond the heavy machinery, the operation also targeted the miners’ infrastructure, resulting in over one hundred makeshift structures used by the illegal miners being set ablaze. This comprehensive action by NAIMOS aims to render the sites unusable and deter future illegal mining efforts in the area.
Smaller logistics seized during the operation underscore the scale of the encampments and resources utilized by the miners. These items comprised three gas cylinders, three shovels, four plastic chairs, two water hoses, one DSTV dish, one generator set, and one pickaxe. The recovery and destruction of these items, as announced by Mr. Kwakye Ofosu, mark another aggressive step by NAIMOS to combat the widespread environmental degradation and pollution of water bodies caused by galamsey across the Western Region.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
