The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has uncovered and dismantled a sprawling and deeply entrenched network of illegal mining activities operating on the Pra River in the Eastern Region, dealing a major blow to galamsey operations that have long polluted one of Ghana’s most vital water bodies.
In a daring, intelligence-led operation conducted on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, personnel of the NAIMOS task force, working in close collaboration with the Akyem-Oda Blue Water Guards, stormed illegal mining sites along and directly on the Pra River between Ofoase Awona and Nsese communities.
The operation began at about 9:30 a.m. and was executed under strict secrecy to prevent the illegal miners from fleeing or concealing evidence.
The joint operation forms part of NAIMOS’ sustained national campaign to identify, disrupt, and dismantle illegal mining syndicates that continue to operate with impunity, often in blatant disregard of environmental laws, local security arrangements, and administrative oversight.
These activities have caused severe environmental degradation, including heavy pollution of the Pra River, leading to the shutdown of several water treatment plants and threatening the health and livelihoods of downstream communities.
The task force commenced the operation from Akyem Ofoase Awona in the Akyemansa District, trekking an estimated fourteen kilometres on foot through dense cocoa plantations to access the home bank of the Pra River. Upon arrival, the team encountered approximately fifty illegal miners actively engaged in dredging and gold washing operations directly on the river.
However, upon sighting the task force, the illegal miners swiftly abandoned their equipment and swam across the Pra River to the far bank near Nsese Village in an attempt to evade arrest. Despite the suspects’ escape, the operation successfully neutralised the operational capacity of the illegal mining network.
Following the escape of the miners, the NAIMOS and Blue Water Guard personnel systematically dismantled and destroyed all illegal mining infrastructure found at the site. In total, seventy-five dredging Changfang platforms and fifty gold washing platforms were destroyed. Additionally, one hundred and fifty Changfang machines positioned on the riverbed were burnt.
Several pipelines and water hoses connected directly to the Pra River and used to facilitate mining operations were also destroyed, effectively crippling the network’s ability to resume activities in the area.
Community Engagement and Applause
After the operation, the task force engaged residents of nearby communities, sensitising them on the environmental, health, and socio-economic dangers associated with illegal mining. The interaction was met with enthusiasm, as community members openly applauded the task force for its decisive action.
Residents reportedly expressed relief at the operation and appealed to NAIMOS to sustain its presence in the area to help restore the polluted river and protect their livelihoods, which largely depend on clean water and agriculture.
NAIMOS has expressed deep concern over the existence of such large-scale, organised illegal mining networks operating in remote communities despite the presence of local security and administrative structures. According to the Secretariat, this situation raises serious national security concerns that require urgent attention.
The Secretariat has therefore called for a comprehensive reorientation and strengthening of administrative and security arrangements in vulnerable and remote mining communities to deter the activities of emboldened criminal networks and safeguard Ghana’s natural resources.
The latest operation on the Pra River underscores the government’s renewed commitment to confronting illegal mining head-on and protecting the country’s water bodies from further destruction.
As NAIMOS intensifies its nationwide operations, stakeholders and communities alike are being urged to support the fight against galamsey for the sake of public health, environmental sustainability, and future generations.
