NAIMOS clears reckless illegal mining along the Kumasi – Sunyani Highway

In a decisive move, operatives of the National Anti Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) embarked on series of raids to clear the reckless illegal mining along the Kumasi – Sunyani Highway on Saturday 17 January 2026. The raids commenced at about 0820 hrs, when the NAIMOS taskforce stormed illegal mining sites at the outskirts of Ashanti Region before entering Ahafo Region. The anti galamsey operations begun from Bronikrom, close to Mankraso where the taskforce cleared an illegal mining site just about 30m along the road between Bronikrom and Mankraso before reaching Adugyama.

The illegal miners who were actively engaged in the mining fled the scene upon sighting the NAIMOS taskforce and left behind an excavator and other items. The taskforce subsequently immobilized the excavator by detaching its monitor, other vital parts and batteries. Following the raids, the taskforce proceeded to Kunsu in the Ahafo Ano South West district.

Early investigations revealed that the illegal miners at Kunsu had also absconded to escape arrest. Similarly, the task force flushed out the illegal miners and burnt some items at the site. The task force further immobilized an excavator which had already been tempered with by the illegal miners hence, did not have any monitor or control board attached.

 

Based on intelligence, the NAIMOS taskforce thereafter proceeded to another illegal mining site at Adeji Mim a suburb of Duayaw Nkwanta.

The task force arrived at an illegal mining site in this town and confirmed that the Tano River flows along the site. It was further observed that the illegal miners depended heavily on the River for their illegal mining activities, thereby causing severe pollution of the River. The illegal miners had makeshift structures at the sight which served as hideouts for their activities, The taskforce completely burnt down the makeshift structures and a multipurpose heavy duty water pumping machine.

 

The following items found at the site were also destroyed:

– Several water hoses burnt.

– Several Makeshift structures destroyed.

– Wooden gold washing platform burnt.

– 5 water jumping machines seized.

– 1 Chanfang burnt

– 8 tricycles burnt

– 14 motors burnt

– Assorted tools box seized.

– 2 heavy duty grinder destroyed.

– 2 heavy duty water pumping machines burnt.

– 2 excavator batteries seized.

– 1 drum of diesel fuel seized.

– Metallic gold washing platform burnt.

– 1 excavator monitor.

– 4 cartridges of Pump Action gun.

 

Commenting on the day’s raids, the Director of Operations for NAIMOS highlighted that, the Taskforce wiill continue to operate in the Bono and Ahafo regions to ensure that the heavily polluted Tano River is brought back to its once pristine state. He reiterated that efforts are being made to permanently position troops at strategic location on the enclave to ensure perpetual surveillance.