The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has dismantled an illegal mining group operating in Ntabanu and Nyameadom. Seven people were arrested during the operation on Saturday, May 2. The group included three Chinese nationals and four Ghanaian citizens.
The arrests follow a patrol that intercepted a speeding pickup truck. The driver, later identified as a Chinese national, was attempting to flee an illegal mining site. This action prompted other miners nearby to stop their work and hide their equipment. The NAIMOS task force quickly moved in, preventing escapes and making the initial arrest.
The operation then moved to the nearby Nyameadom community. There, a second group was intercepted as they tried to leave the area. This syndicate also consisted of two Chinese nationals and four Ghanaian operators. They were attempting to escape in three vehicles: a Nissan Navara, a Nissan Oting, and a Toyota Hilux. Their mining equipment was left behind at an active site. The task force blocked their escape route and arrested all six individuals without incident.
The environmental damage caused by the syndicate was significant. Large areas of farmland were destroyed. The River Mankran, a vital water source for the Mankraso area, was polluted. The arrests highlight the continued presence of foreign nationals in illegal mining. They are often involved in financing and managing these operations. Ghana's laws prohibit foreign participation in small-scale mining.
The seized items include four motor vehicles and one excavator. A tricycle was also recovered from the mining site. In addition, GHS 2,750 in cash was found at the Ntabanu site. Expired non-citizen identification cards belonging to the Chinese suspects were also recovered. The Ghanaian suspects have been handed over to the Mankraso District Police. The Chinese nationals were transferred to NAIMOS Headquarters for further investigation. They will then be passed to the Ghana Immigration Service.
This operation by NAIMOS demonstrates their commitment to combating illegal mining. The agency states it will continue to pursue all active illegal mining sites. The goal is to decisively stop this unlawful trade across the Ashanti Region and beyond. The involvement of foreign nationals in galamsey remains a major concern for Ghana's government and its natural resource management.