The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has conducted a major operation in Nzema East Municipality.
The raid, conducted on Thursday, November 6, targeted Akango and nearby communities including Evalue Gwira, Agbanzie, and Bameigo. It followed intelligence reports of Chinese nationals leading illegal mining operations that had scarred the landscape and contaminated the Ankobra River.
At Evalue Gwira, the taskforce discovered three excavators hidden deep in the bush. The machines were rendered useless after officers removed their control boards to prevent further use.
Searches of makeshift wooden quarters revealed several household items including fans, fridges, batteries, and gas cylinders, all believed to have supported the miners’ operations. The temporary structures were later destroyed to stop the miners from returning.
The operation continued at Agbanzie, but the team could not access an active mining site across the Ankobra River due to a lack of boats and life jackets. At nearby Bameigo, officers inspected a Chinese-owned firm and confirmed through NAIMOS headquarters that it was operating legally.
The Director of Operations praised the taskforce for their persistence, noting visible improvements in parts of the Ankobra River, where water clarity has begun to return.
He said the joint efforts of NAIMOS and the Blue Water Guards were gradually restoring natural ecosystems once choked by illegal mining.
“Every successful operation reclaims part of our future,” he said, adding that the Secretariat remains committed to protecting Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
While the raid was successful and no injuries were reported, the operation underscored challenges faced by NAIMOS teams, particularly the lack of essential equipment for river patrols.
The Secretariat has appealed for more logistical support to sustain its work in remote and waterlogged areas.
The Akango mission adds to a growing list of successful crackdowns that have disrupted illegal mining networks nationwide, strengthening NAIMOS’s position at the forefront of Ghana’s fight to defend its lands and rivers.