The latest enforcement exercise forms part of a broader nationwide operation aimed at dismantling illegal mining<\/a> networks, protecting rivers and forest reserves, and preventing operators from returning to previously cleared mining sites.<\/p>\n During the operation at Bodie and Nyamebekyere, suspected illegal miners reportedly fled upon encountering NAIMOS personnel, who fired warning shots to disperse them.<\/p>\n The development highlights the continuing enforcement challenges confronting security agencies in their efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, particularly in communities where mining activities have become deeply entrenched.<\/p>\n NAIMOS<\/a> is expected to sustain its operations in the affected communities as part of efforts to prevent illegal miners from re-establishing their activities and causing further environmental destruction.<\/p>\n The operation at Bodie and Nyamebekyere comes amid an intensification of anti-illegal mining activities across several parts of the Western Region.<\/p>\n On October 29, 2026, NAIMOS conducted separate enforcement operations at Cape Three Points Forest in the Ahanta West Municipality and Abrokyire-Krobo in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality.<\/p>\n At Cape Three Points Forest, four suspected illegal miners were arrested after operatives discovered mining activities at different locations within the forest.<\/p>\n The task force destroyed four chanfang machines and seven water pumps at one site. At another location, where operators had fled before the arrival of the enforcement team, personnel discovered two excavators whose monitors had been removed.<\/p>\n Three additional chanfang machines, four water pumps and four makeshift structures were destroyed during the exercise.<\/p>\n At Abrokyire-Krobo, suspected miners also fled after spotting the task force. Five chanfang machines, five water pumps, seven generator plants and two makeshift structures were destroyed.<\/p>\n The operations demonstrate the geographical spread of the enforcement campaign and the task force’s efforts to disrupt illegal mining activities beyond individual communities.<\/p>\n One of NAIMOS’ major interventions is Operation Water Shield, a campaign designed to protect strategic water bodies from illegal mining activities.<\/p>\n The initiative initially focused on the Birim River before being extended to the Ankobra River and other vulnerable water systems.<\/p>\n The operation involves intelligence gathering, riverine patrols, raids and the destruction of equipment used by illegal miners.<\/p>\n In October 2026, the task force intensified its activities along the Tano River at Asemkrom in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region.<\/p>\n During operations conducted on October 15 and 18, NAIMOS destroyed a total of 92 chanfang machines and arrested three suspected illegal miners.<\/p>\n The task force also recovered water pumps, a generator and two outboard motors used in the illegal mining activities.<\/p>\n According to a Ghana News Agency report, the enforcement teams discovered that illegal miners had returned to the river despite an earlier operation, prompting further intervention.<\/p>\n The development underscores one of the biggest challenges facing the anti-galamsey campaign: the tendency of illegal miners to return to previously raided locations once security personnel withdraw.<\/p>\n NAIMOS has reported significant operational achievements under its renewed enforcement strategy.<\/p>\n Speaking at a media briefing on October 22, 2026, the Director of Operations, Colonel K.S. Appiah, disclosed that the Secretariat conducted 738 operational activities between June 13 and September 30, 2026.<\/p>\n The operations covered approximately 50,662 kilometres across several regions, including Western, Western North, Central, Eastern, Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, Savannah and Northern.<\/p>\n According to the operational figures presented by the Director:<\/p>\n Approximately 1,970 chanfang machines were destroyed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Some 863 makeshift structures associated with illegal mining were dismantled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n A total of 74 firearms were recovered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Some 551 rounds of ammunition were retrieved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n More than 100 excavators were seized.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Hundreds of suspected illegal miners were arrested and handed over to the appropriate authorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The operations involved reconnaissance missions, mobile patrols, riverine patrols, raids, special enforcement exercises and community engagement.<\/p>\n Colonel Appiah explained that the Secretariat’s approach was designed not only to remove illegal miners but also to dismantle the infrastructure and networks that enable them to continue operating.<\/p>\n The seized excavators are being secured at designated holding locations, with their chassis numbers and GPS locations documented to support legal processes aimed at securing their confiscation by the state.<\/p>\n In another significant development, NAIMOS has expanded its enforcement strategy beyond individuals operating directly at illegal mining sites.<\/p>\n The Secretariat is increasingly targeting the supply chains that sustain galamsey activities, including equipment manufacturers, suppliers, transporters, warehouses and businesses suspected of facilitating illegal mining.<\/p>\n On October 27, 2026, an operation at Eshaem in the Nzema East Municipality resulted in the seizure of a truck carrying 22 brand-new chanfang machines.<\/p>\n The task force also secured a store containing equipment and spare parts suspected of being connected to illegal mining activities.<\/p>\n During the same operation, 28 chanfang machines, 19 water pumps and five makeshift structures were destroyed.<\/p>\n Three excavators were also discovered at mining locations near the Ankobra River, with some critical components reportedly removed.<\/p>\n The operation reflects a broader strategy to disrupt the commercial and logistical networks that allow illegal miners to replace destroyed equipment and resume their activities.<\/p>\n NAIMOS believes that targeting the supply chain is necessary because destroying equipment at mining sites alone may not prevent operators from quickly obtaining replacements.<\/p>\n Beyond rivers, NAIMOS is also preparing to intensify its interventions in Ghana’s forest reserves.<\/p>\n The proposed Operation Green Shield is expected to target illegal mining activities within the Atiwa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region.<\/p>\n The operation is designed around three major stages:<\/p>\n Clearing: Removing illegal miners and disrupting mining activities within identified hotspots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Stabilisation: Maintaining security and monitoring cleared areas to prevent illegal miners from returning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Transition: Gradually transferring routine protection responsibilities to the Forestry Commission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n The initiative is expected to involve specially trained personnel and sustained monitoring of environmentally sensitive areas.<\/p>\n NAIMOS has also announced plans to collaborate with the Ghana Navy to establish a dedicated riverine unit to strengthen patrols along the Ankobra River.<\/p>\n The unit is expected to help prevent the return of chanfang operators and protect areas already cleared under Operation Water Shield.<\/p>\n While enforcement remains a central part of its strategy, NAIMOS is also pursuing community engagement as a means of addressing the underlying challenges associated with illegal mining.<\/p>\n On October 31, 2026, Colonel Kwame Sam Appiah engaged traditional leaders and miners in Amenfi West, where he urged mining operators to adopt responsible and sustainable mining practices.<\/p>\n The meeting provided an opportunity for miners to discuss their challenges and explore ways of operating within the law.<\/p>\n Colonel Appiah reportedly assured participants of the government’s commitment to supporting miners through the process of acquiring the necessary licences to undertake legitimate mining activities.<\/p>\n Some miners also called for closer collaboration with NAIMOS and guidance on meeting regulatory requirements.<\/p>\n The engagement signals an effort to combine enforcement with education, stakeholder cooperation and pathways towards legal mining operations.<\/p>\n Despite the reported operational gains, the continued presence of illegal mining activities in parts of the Western Region raises questions about the long-term effectiveness of enforcement operations.<\/p>\n The return of miners to previously raided locations, as observed along the Tano River and in other mining communities, demonstrates that destroying equipment and dispersing operators may not be sufficient to permanently address the problem.<\/p>\n There are also concerns about the role of financiers, equipment suppliers, landowners and other individuals who facilitate illegal mining operations.<\/p>\n NAIMOS has acknowledged the importance of sustained monitoring and stronger collaboration with other state institutions and local communities.<\/p>\n Its strategy includes working with the police, intelligence agencies, Blue Water Guards, the Forestry Commission and other relevant institutions to prevent illegal mining activities from resurfacing.<\/p>\n The Secretariat has also established forward operating bases in strategic locations to support its nationwide operations. These include Esiama, Sefwi Bekwai and Agona in the Western Region, Asankrangwa in Western North and Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region.<\/p>\n The latest operation at Bodie and Nyamebekyere sends a signal that NAIMOS is maintaining enforcement pressure in the Amenfi mining corridor.<\/p>\n However, residents and environmental stakeholders will be looking beyond the immediate dispersal of suspected miners to see whether the exercise will produce lasting results.<\/p>\n The protection of rivers, farmlands and forest resources requires sustained enforcement, community cooperation and accountability for individuals who finance or facilitate illegal mining.<\/p>\n For communities in Amenfi Central, the success of the operation should ultimately be measured by whether illegal mining activities are prevented from returning and whether degraded areas can be restored.<\/p>\n As NAIMOS continues its crackdown, the challenge will be to translate enforcement successes into lasting environmental protection and responsible mining practices across the Western Region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its campaign against illegal mining in the Western Region, targeting suspected illegal mining sites at Bodie […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[570,25],"tags":[794,795,112,793,796,798,797,267],"class_list":["post-4835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apt-environment","category-western-region","tag-amenfi-central","tag-bodie","tag-galamsey","tag-naimos","tag-nyamebekyere","tag-operation-green-shield","tag-operation-water-shield","tag-western-region"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1","medium":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?fit=300%2C162&ssl=1","medium_large":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?fit=768%2C414&ssl=1","large":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?fit=926%2C499&ssl=1","1536x1536":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?fit=926%2C499&ssl=1","2048x2048":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?fit=926%2C499&ssl=1","mh-magazine-lite-slider":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=926%2C438&ssl=1","mh-magazine-lite-content":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1","mh-magazine-lite-large":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=678%2C499&ssl=1","mh-magazine-lite-medium":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=326%2C245&ssl=1","mh-magazine-lite-small":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=80%2C60&ssl=1","yarpp-thumbnail":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=120%2C120&ssl=1","sow-carousel-default":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=272%2C182&ssl=1"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"Editor","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bf711d428bc8613649773651afe632ce7b73d253d98f0e9ed26da056197e99b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its campaign against illegal mining in the Western Region, targeting suspected illegal mining sites at Bodie [...]<\/a>","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["Apt Environment","Western Regions"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":37,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":8,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?fit=926%2C499&ssl=1",926,499,false],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?fit=300%2C162&ssl=1",300,162,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SK-Appiah.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"Editor","author_link":"https:\/\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/index.php\/author\/aptnewsghana_dm662qsx\/"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bf711d428bc8613649773651afe632ce7b73d253d98f0e9ed26da056197e99b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"Apt Environment<\/a> Western Regions<\/a>","videoUrl":"","yoast_head":"\nNAIMOS expands enforcement operations across Western Region<\/h2>\n
Operation Water Shield: Protecting Ghana’s rivers from galamsey<\/h2>\n
More than 1,900 chanfang machines destroyed in four months<\/h2>\n
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NAIMOS targets suppliers and financiers of illegal mining equipment<\/h2>\n
Operation Green Shield to protect Atiwa Forest<\/h2>\n
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Amenfi miners urged to embrace responsible mining<\/h2>\n
The challenge of sustaining the fight against galamsey<\/h2>\n
What the Bodie and Nyamebekyere operation means for Amenfi Central<\/h2>\n