NAIMOS shuts down illegal riverbank mining in Eastern Region
NAIMOS intensified its Eastern Region offensive on 6 December 2025, seizing five excavators and dismantling illegal mining sites across Akwadum, Ayigbe Town and Ankaase Osino.
The pre‑dawn raid began in Akwadum, where officers moved on an illegal mine close to the Birim River. Five excavators were secured; three were loaded onto low‑bed trucks and escorted to Accra, while two were immobilised on site to halt further digging. The action forced operators to flee into the surrounding bushland.
At Ayigbe Town, near the local fire service, NAIMOS teams encountered another active site. Two excavators were rendered inoperable by removing their control boards and monitors, and officers confiscated diesel fuel and two industrial pumping machines feeding water into processing pits. Makeshift shelters were torn down and set alight to prevent rapid re‑establishment.
The task force then proceeded to Ankaase Osino in the Fanteakwa District. Site caretaker Awini Yahaya claimed the operation belonged to a man called Victor and was linked to Extra Gold Mining Company Limited, but no supporting documents were produced. Officers seized a tributer identification card, two pumping machines and an unregistered black Toyota Land Cruiser found within the concession area.
Follow‑up inspections revealed evolving tactics among illegal miners. At Nsutem, excavators previously immobilised were clandestinely removed by their owners, highlighting gaps in enforcement windows. Meanwhile, some miners abandoned their sites under pressure, yet others remained less than a mile from the Birim and Ayensu rivers, continuing to dig deep pits and flood large tracts for gold washing.
NAIMOS documented severe environmental damage across multiple locations, noting excavation fields covering roughly six acres and pits exceeding eight feet deep, all filled with contaminated water. Officers also confirmed that operators often relocate excavator components or move machines to roadside spots after tip‑offs to evade seizure.
Despite these challenges, the sustained presence of NAIMOS has begun to change the landscape. Illegal activity along key river stretches has sharply reduced, and field assessments suggest that continued pressure could lead to noticeable water‑quality recovery within months.
Technical officers attached to the operation advised that future immobilisations should also include the removal of fuel pumps, in addition to control boards and monitors, to make retrieval financially and logistically difficult for operators.
NAIMOS reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining momentum until illegal mining networks are permanently dismantled from the Eastern Region, positioning the task force as the driving force behind Ghana’s national effort to protect forests and water bodies.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
