Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has reached a new phase as the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) intensifies its operations. On October 23 and 24, 2025, NAIMOS conducted a series of coordinated raids in the Oda and Tano Anwia Forest Reserves in the Ashanti Region and parts of the Western North Region, leading to several arrests and major seizures.
Details of the Operation
The raids, carried out with support from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and Forestry Commission officials, resulted in the arrest of dozens of armed suspects, including one Chinese national believed to be a financier of illegal mining activities.
Authorities seized excavators, firearms, ammunition, cash suspected to be bribe money, and other mining equipment used to destroy forest reserves and pollute nearby water bodies. The task force also destroyed several makeshift camps and equipment found at the sites to prevent miners from returning.
Purpose of the Raids
NAIMOS was launched in July 2025 as part of the government’s renewed effort to fight illegal mining and protect Ghana’s natural environment. The secretariat’s mission is to enforce laws, ensure successful prosecutions, and deter illegal mining operations nationwide.
These latest operations aim to send a strong message that the era of unregulated and environmentally destructive mining is over. The team’s focus on forest reserves highlights the urgency to protect vital ecosystems and restore polluted rivers and farmlands.