The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces and the Forestry Commission, has launched a decisive operation to rid the Atwima Mponua Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region of illegal miners and armed thugs.

The swoop, carried out at dawn on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, targeted Anhwiafutu in the Nkawie Forest District of the Offin Shelter Belt.

Acting on intelligence reports, the task force, supported by troops from the 4th Infantry Battalion, stormed the area and discovered widespread evidence of illegal mining activities.

Excavator tracks and fresh signs of mining pointed to the hasty evacuation of heavy machinery shortly before the team’s arrival.

Upon reaching the forest enclave, the task force encountered several illegal mining sites.

Some miners fled the area, while others abandoned equipment and makeshift shelters, which were destroyed during the raids.

The joint team retrieved and immobilised nine excavators hidden in the forest and seized two Toyota Hilux pickups and one Nissan pickup, which had been concealed at the sites.

Additionally, five chanfang machines, several fuel dumps, old excavator engines, seven water pumping machines, and some personal belongings of the miners were set ablaze.

In a separate operation, the task force raided a house allegedly used by foreign nationals involved in illegal mining.

NAIMOS investigations revealed that 12 Chinese miners had been living there but fled hours before the raid.

A search of the premises uncovered:

18 excavator batteries

31 buckets of grease

7 gas cylinders

1 mini car washing machine

1 excavator radiator

The seized excavators were immobilised on site due to the unavailability of low-bed vehicles to transport them.

Officials described the operation as one of the most successful anti-galamsey swoops in recent months, stressing that NAIMOS remains committed to safeguarding Ghana’s forest reserves and natural resources from destruction.