Operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) have dismantled and destroyed illegal mining installations during a targeted operation along the Butre River at Ewusiejo in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.
The exercise, carried out on Thursday, May 14, 2026, forms part of ongoing nationwide efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities threatening water bodies and degrading the environment.
According to NAIMOS, the operation began at about 09:15 GMT following intelligence reports identifying the area as an illegal mining hotspot along the river.
Upon arrival, officers reportedly encountered about 30 suspected illegal miners who fled the scene, abandoning their equipment and makeshift structures.
Among the items discovered were wooden washing platforms allegedly used to process mined materials directly into the river, contributing to pollution of the water body.
The taskforce also uncovered a changfan machine fitted with extended water-pumping hoses, reportedly used to draw water from the river for mining operations and discharge polluted wastewater back into it.
The equipment, together with the wooden structures and hoses, was dismantled and destroyed to prevent further environmental damage.
NAIMOS reiterated its commitment to sustained enforcement actions against illegal mining across the country.
The Secretariat warned that continuous operations would be carried out to protect Ghana’s water bodies and safeguard the environment from the destructive effects of illegal mining.
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