The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has conducted more than 700 operations since July 2026, as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal mining across the country, the Director of Operations, Colonel K.S. Appiah, has disclosed.
Speaking at a press briefing, Colonel Appiah said the operations had resulted in the recovery of 74 firearms and 551 rounds of ammunition, alongside the seizure of nearly 2,000 changfan machines used in illegal mining activities.
He said the figures reflected the task force’s sustained efforts to dismantle illegal mining operations and disrupt the activities of individuals and groups involved in the practice.
According to him, the task force has also made progress in the Birim corridors, where, he said, there were currently no excavators operating.
Colonel Appiah attributed the situation to the ongoing enforcement efforts aimed at curbing illegal mining and protecting the country’s water bodies and natural resources.
NAIMOS expands operations
The Director of Operations said NAIMOS had extended its enforcement activities beyond illegal gold mining to include illegal sand and stone extraction.
The expansion, he explained, forms part of a broader strategy to tackle various forms of unauthorised mining and protect the environment from the effects of destructive extractive activities.
He said the task force remained committed to sustaining its operations and addressing emerging forms of illegal mining across affected areas.
Operation Green Shield planned for Atewa Forest
Colonel Appiah further announced plans for NAIMOS to embark on Operation Green Shield in the Atewa Forest Reserve to clear and disrupt illegal mining activities in the environmentally sensitive area.
He said the planned operation would focus on removing illegal mining activities and preventing operators from continuing to degrade the forest reserve.
The Atewa Forest Reserve is an important ecological area, and illegal mining poses risks to forest ecosystems and water resources.
The planned operation forms part of NAIMOS’ broader efforts to strengthen enforcement and protect vulnerable environmental zones from the effects of illegal mining.
Colonel Appiah’s remarks underscore the task force’s stated commitment to intensifying operations, recovering weapons and equipment associated with illegal mining, and extending enforcement to other environmentally harmful extraction activities.
The success of the ongoing campaign will depend on sustained enforcement, inter-agency cooperation and measures to prevent illegal miners from returning to cleared sites.
Source : www.kumasimail.com
