In a decisive operation aimed at combating illegal mining, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) conducted a surprise raid in the Atwima Mponua Forest on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
The operation was executed in the early hours of the morning by a joint task force comprising NAIMOS officials, personnel from the Forestry Commission, and soldiers from the Ghana Army’s 4th Infantry Battalion. The raid followed intelligence reports from concerned residents in the Nkawie Forest District, specifically in the Anhwiafutu area.
Upon arrival, the team discovered extensive evidence of illegal mining activity, including heavy machinery concealed within the forest. The illegal miners, startled by the presence of the security team, abandoned their equipment and fled the scene.
During the operation, the task force recovered nine excavators, two Toyota Hilux pickups, and one Nissan pickup hidden among the trees. Due to the lack of transport to remove the equipment, the excavators were disabled on site to prevent further use.
Additional items seized and destroyed included five changfan machines, seven water pumps, several fuel dumps, old engines, and other personal belongings linked to the illegal operations. These items were set ablaze to eliminate any possibility of reuse.
The raid also extended to a nearby residence suspected of housing illegal Chinese miners. Though the occupants had fled before the team’s arrival, a search of the premises uncovered 18 excavator batteries, 31 buckets of grease, seven gas cylinders, and other mining-related tools.
NAIMOS has confirmed that surveillance in the area will be intensified as part of a broader, ongoing national initiative to safeguard Ghana’s forests and natural resources from illegal exploitation.
Source: Theghanareport
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