NAIMOS Operation Deals Major Blow To Illegal Mining Along The Ankobra River

22 August 2026 – The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its campaign against illegal mining in the Western Region, disrupting several illegal mining sites within the Ablebo General Area of the Ellembelle District. The operation targeted illegal mining activities threatening the Ankobra River, one of the water bodies affected by mining in the area. During reconnaissance and enforcement patrols, the NAIMOS Task Force identified several active illegal mining sites and dismantled the infrastructure supporting the operations.

The operation destroyed 86 chanfang machines, 11 water pumps, and two makeshift structures, while additional mining equipment was removed from the sites with support from the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC).

Three suspected illegal miners were also arrested and handed over to the Police in Axim for further investigation. The scale of equipment destroyed significantly reduced illegal miners’ immediate capacity to continue operating in the affected area and helped clear mining infrastructure from sections of the Ankobra River corridor. The operation demonstrates the impact of sustained NAIMOS enforcement in denying illegal miners access to equipment, disrupting their operations, and protecting critical water bodies from further degradation.

NAIMOS will continue targeted operations, reconnaissance and monitoring along the Ankobra River and in other affected areas to prevent the return of illegal miners and to consolidate gains from ongoing enforcement actions.

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