The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force has apprehended two Chinese nationals for engaging in illegal mining activities within the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, located in the Jomoro area of Ghana’s Western North Region. The operation, conducted on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, marks another significant breakthrough in Ghana’s ongoing fight against the menace of galamsey.
According to NAIMOS officials, the suspects were caught red-handed conducting mining operations that had severely impacted the natural environment. The team discovered large-scale destruction of vegetation and the diversion of portions of the Tano River — a vital water source for nearby communities.
Authorities confiscated a range of items from the suspects, including a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 (registration number GR 442-14), four excavators — three immobilized and one completely neutralized — as well as two heavy-duty water pumps used in their illegal operations.
Additional items retrieved included GH₵10,050 in cash, two mobile phones (an iPhone and a Huawei), an HF radio, a monitor, a control board, a flashlight, a drum of fuel, and several cigarette packs and lighters.
Investigations have revealed that the suspects were allegedly operating under the cover of the “Jomoro Community Mining Project.” Sources within NAIMOS suspect that the concession for the site may have been issued by the Chief of Jomoro, Nana Kwame Nkansah, though investigations are still ongoing to confirm the details.
Speaking to the media, a NAIMOS spokesperson emphasized the government’s unwavering resolve to clamp down on illegal mining operations regardless of the individuals or institutions involved.
“Anyone — Ghanaian or foreign — found engaging in or facilitating illegal mining will face the full rigors of the law,” the spokesperson declared.
The two Chinese suspects are currently in police custody, assisting with further investigations.
This latest arrest comes amid Ghana’s intensified efforts to protect its forests, water bodies, and farmlands from the destructive impact of galamsey, which has long posed a serious threat to the country’s environment and public health.
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