STORY BY IRENE KABUKIE KWAO—

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) says it has destroyed 1,970 chanfangs and 863 makeshift structures during 738 operations against illegal mining across the country in four months.

The operations, conducted between June 13 and September 30, 2026, formed part of efforts to dismantle illegal mining networks and protect Ghana’s rivers and environmentally sensitive areas.

Colonel K.S. Appiah, Director of Operations at NAIMOS, disclosed this during a media briefing on Thursday, October 22, saying the task force had covered approximately 50,662 kilometres during the period.

He said the operations involved reconnaissance, mobile and riverine patrols, raids, special operations and community engagement, guided by an intelligence-led strategy to prevent illegal miners from returning to cleared areas.

According to him, the approach focuses on protecting strategic watersheds and river systems, from their sources to their estuaries, to achieve lasting environmental security.

“Our approach focuses our efforts on conditions needed for lasting environmental security,” he said, emphasising the importance of sustained monitoring and effective control of equipment used for illegal mining.

The joint operations covered several parts of the country, including the Western, Western North, Central, Eastern and Ashanti regions, as well as the Bono, Savannah and Northern operational areas.

Firearms, ammunition recovered
Beyond the destruction of mining infrastructure, Colonel Appiah said NAIMOS task forces recovered 74 firearms and 551 rounds of ammunition during the four-month period.

The teams also seized excavators, water pumps, vehicles and other equipment used to support illegal mining activities.

He said the interventions were intended to weaken the operational capacity of illegal miners and limit their ability to resume activities after security operations.

“Between 13 June, when I took over, and 30 September, NAIMOS conducted 738 operational activities covering a cumulative distance of approximately 50,662 km,” he said.

“Over the period, about 1,970 machines and 863 makeshift structures have been destroyed, disrupting mining capacity and infrastructure that sustains it.”