Story By: Nii Okpoti Odamtten & Muhammad Faisal Mustapha….
In a decisive and meticulously executed operation, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested two suspected kingpins behind a destructive illegal mining network operating along the Akango Duale corridor in the Nzema East District of Ghana’s Western Region.
The intelligence led operation, conducted on Thursday, 23 April 2026, between 0830 and 1850 hours, marks another significant escalation in the state’s renewed crackdown on illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
Acting on credible intelligence, the NAIMOS taskforce advanced to a notorious mining site where the scale of environmental devastation was immediately evident. A stretch of land barely 10 meters from the roadside had been severely degraded, with deep excavations and exposed earth revealing a reckless disregard for environmental and public safety regulations.
What was once a stable roadside landscape had been transformed into a fragile and hazardous terrain.
“This is not just environmental damage it is a direct assault on public safety and national integrity,” a senior NAIMOS operative stated during the operation.
The success of the operation has been widely attributed to the strategic direction, political will, and sustained operational backing provided by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.
Officials within the taskforce described the Minister’s leadership as decisive, reform driven, and uncompromising in the face of entrenched illegal mining networks, noting that his renewed policy coordination and enforcement support have significantly strengthened NAIMOS operations nationwide.
“The Honourable Minister’s unwavering commitment has reinvigorated this fight. His leadership has not only empowered enforcement agencies but has restored confidence in Ghana’s determination to protect its natural resources,” a senior NAIMOS official disclosed.
“This operation is a direct reflection of the Minister’s bold vision one that prioritizes environmental protection, public safety, and accountability at all levels,” another source emphasized.
Upon arrival, the taskforce encountered no resistance, as the illegal miners fled the scene, abandoning a large cache of equipment. Recovered items included over forty (40) chanfang machines and several water pumping hoses tools commonly used in alluvial gold extraction.
In strict adherence to operational protocols designed to prevent reuse, all chanfang machines were destroyed, while the water hoses were incinerated on site. Makeshift structures serving as operational bases for the miners were also dismantled.
“Every destroyed machine represents a disruption of an illegal network that has thrived for far too long,” an official emphasized.
Further inspection along the route revealed an even more alarming discovery a massive, unprotected excavation pit dangerously close to the main road. The depth and proximity of the pit posed an imminent threat to motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.
Authorities warned that without timely intervention, the site could easily have resulted in a catastrophic incident.
“This was a disaster waiting to happen. The proximity of that pit to the road is deeply troubling,” an environmental safety officer remarked.
In a dramatic turn of events, two individuals arrived at the site during the operation and identified themselves as the operators behind the illegal mining activities. The suspects, Mr. Eric Badu and Mr. Patrick Kablerah, were immediately apprehended.
A Honda CR-V (Registration No. DV A6894) believed to have been used to facilitate the illegal operations was seized.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the suspects’ activities significantly contributed to land degradation, environmental pollution, and obstruction of a public roadway.
“We are no longer just targeting equipment we are targeting the architects behind these destructive enterprises,” a NAIMOS source disclosed.
Items retrieved during the operation include:
* 2 x plant generators
* 1 x Honda CR-V vehicle
* GHS 14,000 in cash
The suspects have since been handed over to the Essiema Police Station for further investigations and prosecution.
NAIMOS reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to intensifying operations against illegal mining across Ghana, emphasizing enhanced collaboration with security agencies, environmental institutions, and local communities.
“The fight against illegal mining is not optional it is essential to Ghana’s future. We will pursue it relentlessly,” the Secretariat declared.
With strengthened leadership at the ministerial level and sustained operational momentum on the ground, Ghana’s campaign against galamsey appears to be entering a more decisive and results driven phase.