NAIMOS Intensifies Crackdown on Galamsey in Tano North District
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its operations in the Ahafo Region, carrying out a major sweep of illegal mining sites in the Tano North District as part of efforts to protect water bodies and farmlands.
The operation, which targeted communities including Sukuumu, Subrisu No. 2 and Adrobaa, followed weeks of intelligence gathering and reports of sustained galamsey activities in the area. The deployment of the task force, officials said, was necessary to avert the looming pollution of the Tano River and the widespread destruction of farmlands, which serve as the main source of livelihood for residents.
Upon arrival, the task force identified three major illegal mining sites that had been under active exploitation.
However, while evidence of operations such as excavated pits, makeshift processing areas and abandoned changfang machines were found, the miners themselves were conspicuously absent. According to NAIMOS, this development points to possible information leaks that may have alerted the operators ahead of the raid.
Despite the absence of the miners, the level of environmental degradation was stark. Large portions of farmlands had been destroyed, access routes carved by heavy machinery had scarred the landscape, and nearby water bodies showed signs of heavy siltation. Preliminary assessments revealed that several cocoa and food crop farms had been affected, posing a serious threat to the livelihoods of local farmers and food security in the district.
The task force seized and disabled equipment found at the sites, including generators, water pumping machines and processing tools, to prevent the immediate resumption of illegal activities. Some of the open pits were also backfilled to reduce danger to residents and livestock, while plans were initiated for further land reclamation by the appropriate state agencies.
