By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has recorded another significant victory in the fight against illegal mining, following a sweeping day-long operation across Atiwa West and Birim Central in the Eastern Region.
The special operation, conducted by the NAIMOS Task Force, exposed extensive environmental destruction at multiple mining sites. Officers discovered deep abandoned pits, degraded farmlands, and stretches of polluted landscapes evidence of persistent illegal mining activities despite ongoing national efforts to curb the menace.
According to officials, heavy-duty machinery, including excavators, had been deployed by operators to intensify excavation along forested areas and riverbanks. Sensing the presence of the Task Force, the illegal miners fled their sites, abandoning equipment in their haste. Three excavators were successfully immobilised to prevent future use.
The Secretariat described the operation as part of a renewed and uncompromising national approach to safeguarding natural resources. NAIMOS reaffirmed its commitment to restoring Ghana’s forests, farmlands, and river bodies, insisting that illegal mining will be met with sustained and robust enforcement.
Authorities say more coordinated operations are expected in the coming weeks as NAIMOS tightens surveillance and deepens inter-agency collaboration across mining-prone regions.
