A major blow has been dealt to illegal mining operations in Ghana following a successful raid carried out on September 17, 2025 by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in collaboration with the 4th Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces and officials from the Forestry Commission.
The coordinated operation targeted deep-seated galamsey activities within the Atwima Mponua Forest Reserve, situated in the Nkawie Forest District of the Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in Ashanti Region.
Information available to The Chronicle has it that , the raid was part of a broader national strategy to combat illegal mining and reclaim environmentally sensitive forest areas from destruction.
The operation was guided by carefully gathered local intelligence and executed during the early hours to enhance the element of surprise.
Discovery of Mining Sites and Suspect Flight
Upon entering the Anhwiafutu area, the task force discovered fresh excavator tracks, a clear indication that illegal miners had moved heavy machinery out of the area shortly before the team’s arrival.
It became evident that the suspects had been tipped off, likely through an underground network that monitors state-led anti-mining operations.
Despite their retreat, there was undeniable evidence of extensive illegal mining. Severely disturbed vegetation, deep excavation pits, polluted water bodies and traces of chemical use all point to active galamsey operations.
Several individuals identified as a mixture of Ghanaian nationals and Chinese foreign operatives were seen fleeing into the forest upon detecting the presence of the task force.
Their disappearance thwarted immediate arrests, but confirmed the transnational dimension of the operations in the area.
Items Seized and Equipment Destroyed
The operation, which was conducted on September 17,2025 led to the retrieval and immobilisation of nine excavators found hidden within the reserve. Since low-bed trucks could not be mobilised to transport the machines out of the dense forest terrain, the task force immobilized them on-site to prevent further use.
In addition to the excavators, the task force seized three vehicles—two Toyota Hilux pickup trucks and one Nissan pickup, all believed to have supported transportation of personnel, machinery, and fuel.
Five “Chanfang” machines, known for their crude yet effective gold extraction methods that wreak havoc on riverbeds, were discovered and destroyed by fire.
The team also dismantled fuel storage facilities concealed within the forest and destroyed several old excavator engines** that were likely being kept for spare parts.
Seven industrial-grade water pumping machines, used by the illegal miners to drain or redirect water sources into mining pits, were confiscated, further crippling the miners’ ability to operate in the area.
Residential Raid and Flight of Chinese Nationals
The operation advanced into a nearby residential compound that had been under surveillance for weeks. Intelligence suggested the house was a base of operations for foreign illegal miners.
Upon arrival, the building was found abandoned, but investigations confirmed that twelve Chinese nationals had been residing there.
All twelve, along with their Ghanaian collaborators, fled the premises before the team arrived, further affirming fears of insider leaks within local communities or operational circles.
A comprehensive search of the house uncovered significant quantities of equipment and supplies linked directly to illegal mining.
These included eighteen excavator batteries, thirty-one large containers of industrial grease, seven gas cylinders, one mini car-washing machine, and an excavator radiator.
The presence of these materials indicated the facility’s strategic importance in maintaining mining operations in the forest.
The successful raid is a testament to the growing coordination between NAIMOS, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Forestry Commission.
It demonstrates the capacity of state institutions to conduct high-impact, intelligence-driven field operations even in challenging terrains and under operational secrecy.
Environmental and National Implications
Illegal mining continues to pose a grave threat to Ghana’s ecological stability, food security, and public health. Operations like the one conducted on September 17, 2025 are vital not only for enforcement, but also for raising public awareness of the environmental costs of illegal mining.
The Atwima Mponua raid disrupted what was clearly a well-funded, transnational operation involving both Ghanaian and Chinese nationals.
The immobilisation of heavy-duty equipment, seizure of vehicles and supplies, and destruction of operational bases will significantly hinder illegal mining in the area in the short term.
Conclusion and Forward Outlook
The operation in Atwima Mponua stands as a bold demonstration of state resolve in the fight against illegal mining. It underlines the importance of intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination and rapid response mechanisms in dealing with an issue that has grown into a national crisis.
Authorities have confirmed that further operations are being planned in other hotspots across the country.
Surveillance will be increased, local collaboration will be intensified, and communities are being urged to report illegal mining activities to the relevant agencies.
This raid, conducted with precision and professionalism, offers a model for how Ghana can tackle illegal mining—not only through enforcement, but also through sustained and strategic action.
