A group of young men from Koforidua, allegedly hired by an illegal miner to confront officers of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), were overpowered and arrested during a dawn operation at Akyem Osino in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region.
One of the suspects, whose identity was not immediately known, sustained injuries and is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.
The confrontation occurred when the NAIMOS task force moved in to clamp down on illegal mining activities along the Birim River, one of Ghana’s major water bodies.
According to Mr. Francis Annor Dompreh, a member of the task force, the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance of suspected illegal mining sites in the area.
He explained that, the group from Koforidua, who were armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons attempted to resist arrest and attacked members of the security team, but were swiftly subdued, leading to multiple arrests.
Mr. Francis Annor Dompreh expressed concern over the increasing trend of mob attacks on NAIMOS officials and warned that if not addressed urgently, such acts could have dire consequences for the perpetrators.
He reaffirmed the team’s commitment to continuing its operations until illegal mining is completely eradicated.
In all, 36 suspected illegal miners were arrested comprising 32 Nigerien nationals and 4 Ghanaians who allegedly provided logistical and operational support to the foreigners and are assisting police with investigations.
Equipment including water pumps, metal detectors, and dredging machines were confiscated and taken to the Osino Police Station as evidence.
The joint security operation involved personnel from NAIMOS, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and the National Security Secretariat.
Mr. Francis Annor Dompreh said the exercise formed part of the government’s renewed commitment to ending illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which continues to destroy the environment and pollute major rivers.
“This operation demonstrates the government’s determination to protect Ghana’s natural resources and ensure that those engaged in illegal mining, whether local or foreign, face the full rigours of the law,” he said.
He added that NAIMOS would continue to intensify monitoring and enforcement operations across the Eastern Region and beyond to restore degraded lands and protect water bodies.
The Ghana Immigration Service will determine the status of the foreign nationals, while the Ghanaian accomplices will be prosecuted under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and other relevant laws.
Residents of Osino have lauded NAIMOS for the timely intervention, noting that illegal mining had severely polluted the Birim River and destroyed farmlands.
The NAIMOS Secretariat has urged the public to report illegal mining activities in their communities and reaffirmed its commitment to working with law enforcement agencies to sustain the fight against galamsey nationwide.
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