GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has confiscated firearms, explosives and mining equipment during coordinated operations against illegal mining activities in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region.
The task force carried out the large-scale raids on Thursday, January 29, targeting several galamsey sites along major water bodies in the area.
At about 7:30 a.m., the team intercepted illegal miners operating in a stream at Agonakrom, a tributary of the Hwin River. Multiple water pumps and pipelines found along the stream were destroyed by the task force.
Later at around 9:25 a.m., NAIMOS raided a site known locally as “Agenda 111” at Mpohor, approximately 200 metres from land designated for a hospital project under the government’s Agenda 111 initiative. Miners had blocked sections of the Butre River and were actively mining within a palm plantation, causing significant environmental damage.
The miners fled upon seeing the task force vehicles.
Two Sany excavators found at the site were transported to the Mpohor District Office and immobilised by removing their monitors and control boards. Three water pumping machines were also seized.
Explosives discovered at the site were safely disposed of by an explosive expert attached to the task force. Several makeshift structures, old water pumps, hoses and changfan machines operating in the river were burnt.
Following the site operations, NAIMOS traced and raided the residences of suspected illegal miners, leading to the confiscation of seven pump-action guns, 12 BB cartridges, an unregistered grey Toyota Hilux, a control board, three radios, a 32-inch television and three water pumping machines.
The task force further conducted extensive operations along the Butre River flow line and in the Mpohor Fiase area, where additional makeshift structures and changfan machines used by illegal miners were destroyed.
