A task force from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has uncovered multiple illegal mining sites in the Eastern Region, exposing the extent of damage being done to the environment and the tactical methods used by miners to evade arrest.
At sites in Akanteng Asamankese, officers found six excavators hidden in nearby bushes. Only two still had their monitors intact, though both had been immobilised.
The remaining four had been deliberately stripped of key components like control boards and monitors after the miners got wind of the task force’s presence.
Residents shared troubling accounts of polluted streams and rivers, including one that feeds directly into the River Birim. The environmental damage caused by these operations has affected farmlands, forests, and vital water sources.
“This is a threat to our water, our land, and our future. These operations must be stopped, and the laws enforced,” a resident said during the visit.
The operation highlighted a pressing need for logistics support, especially low-bed trucks to help move seized excavators to secure storage. Without this support, dismantled machinery often remains on-site, making it harder to prevent further illegal activity.
Stakeholders have called for more strategic and unannounced raids to disrupt mining operations before miners can escape or disable equipment.
There are also increasing calls for stricter penalties for those operating in restricted areas like riversides and forest reserves.
NAIMOS has pledged to continue its work across the country to protect Ghana’s natural resources from the ongoing threat of illegal mining.
