The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has destroyed 92 changfang machines during two separate operations targeting illegal mining activities on the Tano River at Asemkrom in the Aowin District of the Western North Region.
The operations, conducted on October 15 and October 18, 2026, formed part of Operation WATER SHIELD, an enforcement initiative aimed at protecting Ghana’s rivers and water bodies from illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
During the first operation on October 15, the NAIMOS task force reportedly destroyed 61 changfang machines discovered operating on platforms directly on the Tano River near the Jema-Asekrom Forest Reserve.
The officers also recovered six water pumps and a generator believed to be associated with the mining activities. Three suspected operators were arrested during the exercise and handed over to the police for further investigation.
However, a follow-up patrol conducted on October 18 revealed that illegal miners had returned to the area and resumed their activities despite the earlier intervention.
The task force subsequently carried out another operation, destroying an additional 31 changfang machines and seizing two outboard motors linked to the mining activities.
The destruction of the equipment brings the total number of changfang machines destroyed during the two operations to 92, in what authorities describe as part of continuing efforts to prevent illegal miners from exploiting the river and its surrounding environment.
NAIMOS said the mining activities had contributed to increased turbidity in the Tano River, raising concerns about water quality and the environmental impact on nearby communities and the adjoining forest reserve.
The reported return of miners shortly after the first operation has also highlighted the challenges facing enforcement agencies in their efforts to stop illegal mining. Authorities have continued to stress the importance of sustained monitoring and patrols to prevent operators from re-establishing activities at previously cleared sites.
Operation WATER SHIELD is intended to dismantle illegal mining infrastructure, restrict unauthorised access to rivers and riverbanks, and protect water bodies from the effects of mining-related pollution.
Illegal mining remains a major environmental concern in Ghana, with activities along rivers often involving the use of heavy machinery, water pumps and other equipment that can disturb riverbeds and increase sediment levels. Such operations can threaten aquatic ecosystems and affect communities that depend on rivers for their daily needs.
The Tano River operation forms part of broader efforts by authorities to combat galamsey and safeguard the country’s natural resources. The repeated discovery of mining equipment at Asemkrom has reinforced calls for continued enforcement and cooperation with local communities to prevent illegal operators from returning to affected areas.
NAIMOS is expected to maintain its efforts against illegal mining along the Tano River and other identified hotspots as authorities pursue measures to protect Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
Source: Thepressradio.com
