The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has launched an unprecedented series of coordinated operations across the Western and Western North Regions, dismantling powerful illegal mining networks, arresting foreign sponsors, and reclaiming Ghana’s ravaged rivers and forest reserves.
Between October 5 and 9, 2025, the NAIMOS Task Force executed three major crackdowns — at Gangway (Aboso), along the Ankobra River, and inside the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve at Jomoro and Cape Three Points Forest Reserves in what has been described as the largest anti-galamsey offensive in recent months.
Gangway Falls — A Criminal Hotspot Erased
The first strike hit “Gangway”, a notorious galamsey and crime-ridden enclave at Aboso in the Prestea-Huni Valley District, where the Task Force stormed the area at dawn on Monday, October 5, 2025.
Armed NAIMOS operatives torched dozens of wooden shanties that had long served as operational bases for illegal miners, drug dealers, and gamblers. The raid sent hundreds of suspected galamseyers fleeing or surrendering as thick clouds of smoke rose above the settlement.
The team also discovered and seized 11 wraps of Indian hemp and other narcotics, exposing the deep links between illegal mining and drug trafficking. Across the nearby Dadwen–Dompim stretch, officers destroyed 15 water-pumping machines, three Changfangs, and one generator, while several makeshift mining shelters were set ablaze.
This operation marked the end of a long-standing defiance, as miners had ignored repeated warnings from traditional leaders and NAIMOS earlier in the year.
Ankobra River Reclaimed — Illegal Dredging Destroyed
After the Gangway raid, the NAIMOS teams in collaboration with the Nzema East Blue Water Guards, launched a sweeping riverine operation along the Ankobra River, stretching from Gwira Eshiam to Anyinase.
The operation uncovered large-scale illegal dredging and river diversion activities, particularly at “Cocoa Ase” in Gwira Banso, where dozens of miners fled at the sight of approaching Task Force boats.
Over 100 makeshift shelters were burned down, while the Task Force destroyed 7 Changfang machines and seized 23 water-pumping machines, gas cylinders, shovels, and other mining tools. A Hyundai excavator discovered at Abrodiem was immobilized, and a nearby repair shop housing over 50 additional water pumps was completely dismantled.
Investigators also reopened the Kamei Stream, a vital tributary that had been blocked and diverted by miners to support their illegal dredging operations.
“This is just the beginning. We are determined to restore Ghana’s rivers and protect the lives that depend on them”, a NAIMOS official warned
Foreign Financiers Busted in Jomoro Forest
The most dramatic phase of the crackdown came on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, when NAIMOS operatives executed a high-risk, intelligence-led raid deep inside the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in Jomoro, Western North Region.
After being initially denied entry by Forest Guards, the Task Force forced its way into the reserve and intercepted a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 (GR 442-14) carrying three suspects. Two of the occupants, both Chinese nationals were captured after a chase, while a third accomplice escaped.
On site, the Task Force uncovered a fully operational galamsey base operating under the guise of the Jomoro Community Mining Project. The raid led to the seizure of four excavators (three already immobilized), two heavy water pumps, and the destruction of 12 makeshift structures.
A thorough search yielded GHC 10,050 cash, two smartphones, a control board, a drum of fuel, and several communication devices. Investigations revealed that the Chinese suspects were key financiers behind illegal mining activities in Jomoro, allegedly operating under a concession issued by Chief Nana Kwame Nkansah.
The two suspects have since been transferred to the NAIMOS Headquarters in Accra for interrogation.
In a related follow-up, NAIMOS also raided the Bugart Mining site at Essipong in Asankrangua, where Burkinabe nationals were found working illegally. Though the company claimed to hold a 2012 small-scale mining license, inconsistencies in their documents raised red flags. A CAT excavator was immobilized, and the owners were ordered to present all foreign workers to authorities for verification.
Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, Arrests 28 Illegal Miners
On October 9, 2025, the NAIMOS Task Force conducted a major operation at the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve in the Western Region, arresting 28 illegal miners and seizing mining equipment, including an excavator and water pumps. The operation, which uncovered severe forest destruction, reinforces NAIMOS’s commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources and eradicating illegal mining.
Cumulative Tally of Seized and Destroyed Items
Across all four operations — at Gangway (Aboso), Ankobra River, Jomoro Forest, and Cape Three Points Forest Reserve — the NAIMOS Task Force seized or destroyed a significant cache of illegal mining tools and materials, reflecting the growing scale and sophistication of galamsey operations in the Western and Western North Regions.
Excavators: 6 (4 immobilized in Jomoro, 1 Hyundai immobilized at Abrodiem, 1 immobilized at Cape Three Points)
Water-Pumping Machines: 65+ (15 at Dadwen-Dompim, 23 along Ankobra River, 20+ from repair shop, 7 at Cape Three Points)
Chanfang Dredging Machines: 7
Heavy-Duty Water Pumps: 2
Generator: 1
Toyota Land Cruiser V8 (GR 442-14) — seized
Shovels: 16 (Cape Three Points)
Pickaxe: 1 (Cape Three Points)
Mobile Phones: 14 (2 from Jomoro, 12 from Cape Three Points)
Indian Hemp (wrapped): 28 wraps (11 from Gangway, 17 from Cape Three Points)
Mini Bottles of Mercury: 3 (Cape Three Points)
Torchlights: 7 (Cape Three Points)
Cash: GHC 10,200 (GHC 10,050 from Jomoro, GHC 150 from Cape Three Points)
Control Board and Monitor: 1 set (Jomoro)
Drum of Fuel: 1 (Jomoro)
Assorted Drugs and Alcoholic Sachets: Various (Cape Three Points)
Makeshift and Wooden Structures Destroyed: 120+ across all sites
A National Message of Zero Tolerance
In a strong public statement, NAIMOS reiterated that the fight against galamsey is not a one-off event but a sustained national mission. The Secretariat vowed to intensify joint operations with security agencies, local assemblies, and community watchdogs to uproot illegal mining networks including their foreign financiers and local collaborators.
With this coordinated multi-front assault, NAIMOS has not only reclaimed parts of Ghana’s natural environment but also sent a powerful message: the days of impunity in illegal mining are numbered.
Meanwhile, Blue Water Guards Survive Gunfire as Illegal Mining Sites Crushed Along Tandan River
Ellembelle, Western Region — In a dramatic anti-galamsey operation that nearly turned fatal, members of the Blue Water Guards came under gunfire from an armed illegal miner while dismantling unlawful mining setups along the Tandan River in the Ellembelle District on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
The operation, which began at 9:00 a.m. at Adibreme and ended around 5:00 p.m., was a joint effort between the Ellembelle River Guards, the Esiama and Adibreme Blue Water Guards, National Security operatives, and the Ghana Police Service. The team moved swiftly to clear sections of the river that had been heavily polluted by illegal mining activities.
During the exercise, the task force destroyed six (6) Changfang dredging machines, burned three (3) water-pumping machines, and confiscated five (5) motorbikes suspected to belong to illegal miners. Several makeshift structures used as operational bases were also razed to the ground.
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