NAIMOS intensifies galamsey crackdown, arrests 40 and seizes mining equipment across six regions

Operations focused on the Ankobra, Bia, Torya, Tano, and Butre rivers, as well as the Desire Forest Reserve, the Birim River, and the Tepa-Goaso District. In one instance on July 29, eight suspects, including two Chinese nationals and six Ghanaians, were arrested at Sikaniasem in the Western region. Seizures from this operation included an excavator, a Toyota Land Cruiser, three motorbikes, nine water pumps, and a shotgun.

Fourteen water pumps, seven chanfang machines, four generators, and five makeshift structures were also destroyed. Further operations in the Western Region on July 29 led to the arrest of 19 Ghanaians in Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mpohor, and Ellembelle, with 120,000 Ghana cedis recovered from one suspect. Equipment seized included an excavator, three excavator control boards, a pump action shotgun, 19 cartridges, and 29 chanfang machines.

On July 30, operations in areas like Asankragua and Breman resulted in the seizure of seven motorbikes and two water pumps, and one excavator was rendered inoperable. Thirteen suspects were arrested in the Ashanti, Ahafo, Savannah, and Eastern Regions. An intelligence-led operation at Kadadwen on July 30 resulted in the seizure of a Zoomlion excavator, a white Zonda pickup vehicle, and various other heavy-