The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining activities in Ghana, with a major operation in Kyebi, Eastern Region, resulting in the seizure and disabling of four excavators used by illegal miners. The strategic swoop was carried out on Sunday, June 15, 2025, as part of ongoing nationwide efforts to protect Ghana’s natural resources, particularly its rivers and forest reserves.
According to NAIMOS officials, the taskforce departed from Accra at 10:00 AM with the objective of conducting surveillance and enforcement against unauthorized mining operations in known hotspots within Kyebi and surrounding areas.
Upon reaching the communities of Asikam and Potrase—notorious enclaves for illegal mining—the team encountered active mining operations along the Birim River, one of Ghana’s most ecologically significant water bodies.
As soon as the illegal miners spotted the approaching taskforce, they abandoned their operations and fled into the nearby bush and along the Birim River, making arrests difficult. The swift escape by the miners is typical of galamsey operations, which are often guarded and have lookouts to alert workers of incoming law enforcement teams.
Despite the escape, the taskforce successfully disabled four heavy-duty excavators used for mining. Officials removed the control boards and other critical components of the equipment, rendering them inoperable and effectively halting mining activities in the immediate area.
The team wrapped up the operation and returned to Accra by 2:00 AM on Monday, June 16, 2025.
Authorities in the Eastern Regional Police Command have joined the operation in a follow-up effort to apprehend the fleeing illegal miners. Surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts are ongoing to identify and prosecute those involved in the illicit activity.
The taskforce believes that some of the miners may have used unauthorized routes and footpaths to escape deeper into the forest or towards nearby settlements. Investigations are also underway to determine ownership of the seized excavators and to dismantle any local support networks enabling illegal mining in the area.
This operation is part of a broader anti-galamsey initiative led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, under the leadership of Sector Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. The initiative aims to restore Ghana’s degraded lands and polluted rivers by enforcing mining regulations and disbanding illegal mining syndicates.
Minister Buah has publicly emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal mining and reiterated his commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s water bodies—especially those used for drinking and irrigation—are protected from irreversible damage.
“We are committed to enforcing the laws of this country and holding offenders accountable. The environment is a national asset, and we must defend it for current and future generations,” the Minister stated recently.
The Kyebi operation comes at a critical time, as several communities along the Birim River have been dealing with increasing water contamination, health risks, and destruction of farmlands due to galamsey activities. Local farmers and residents have consistently called on the government for urgent intervention to preserve their livelihoods.
Environmental experts have also raised alarm over the use of mercury and other toxic chemicals in illegal mining, which pose significant threats to biodiversity and public health.
NAIMOS is urging residents in affected communities to cooperate with authorities by providing intelligence on illegal miners, hidden equipment, and financiers of galamsey operations. The Secretariat also reiterated its commitment to carrying out continuous enforcement actions in all regions affected by illegal mining.
With Kyebi being the hometown of prominent national figures and a symbol of Ghana’s rich natural heritage, the success of this operation is expected to set the tone for even more aggressive interventions nationwide.