The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 19 suspected illegal miners following reports of galamsey activities around the Mpohor Fiase Police Station in the Western Region.
The arrests were made on Wednesday, July 29, during an operation by the NAIMOS Task Force after residents, affected farmers and traditional leaders raised concerns over the increasing illegal mining activities in the area.
The operation follows a report by JoyNews journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, which highlighted the spread of illegal mining in parts of the Mpohor Fiase District, with some operators allegedly working openly and dangerously close to the community’s police station.
NAIMOS said its task force had earlier conducted intelligence gathering and reconnaissance in the area before targeting two major illegal mining sites and several smaller locations.
During the operation, the team destroyed 16 changfan machines, nine water pumps and three makeshift structures believed to have been used for illegal mining activities.
An excavator found at one of the sites was also disabled after some of its key components were removed to prevent further operations.
The task force further seized a pump-action gun with four rounds of ammunition from one of the suspects, while another suspect was found in possession of GH¢120,000 in cash.
The 19 suspects and the seized items have since been handed over for further investigations and possible prosecution.
NAIMOS said it will continue with intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting illegal mining activities, dismantling networks supporting galamsey and protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
The Secretariat has urged individuals involved in illegal mining to stop the practice and encouraged the public to provide credible information to support efforts to combat illegal mining across the country.
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