BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining activities in Ghana’s Western Region, arresting 49 suspected miners following a dawn operation at Adiewoso in the Ahanta West District.
The operation, conducted on Thursday, April 30, 2026, targeted illegal mining syndicates operating within the concession of Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), a major agro-industrial entity whose plantations have increasingly come under threat from illicit mining activities. Authorities say the move forms part of a broader national effort to protect economic crops and restore degraded lands affected by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
According to NAIMOS, the operation was triggered by an earlier violent incident on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, when a group of armed illegal miners launched an ambush on its operatives stationed in Nzema East.
The attackers reportedly opened fire using pump-action weapons, targeting a taskforce vehicle in what officials described as a “brazen and reckless assault.” Although the operatives managed to withdraw without casualties, the incident prompted an urgent intelligence-led response.
Acting on credible intelligence, NAIMOS deployed a coordinated cordon-and-search operation between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. in Adiewoso and surrounding communities.
A total of 114 individuals were initially apprehended and transported to a community centre for screening and identification.
Following the exercise, 49 individuals were identified as suspected illegal miners actively operating within the GREL plantation.
Eight were confirmed as legitimate GREL workers, while 12 were identified as senior high school students and subsequently released.
Others screened included artisans and residents with no direct links to illegal mining activities.
Among those arrested were three foreign nationals—one from Niger and two from Burkina Faso—highlighting the cross-border dimension of illegal mining operations in Ghana.
The operation also led to significant recoveries. Security personnel retrieved a pump-action firearm, GH₵140,000 found in a Toyota Raize vehicle, and an additional GH₵86,710 discovered in a Toyota Hilux alongside substances suspected to be gold.
Authorities also seized quantities of suspected narcotics, including substances believed to be Indian hemp, and cartons of cigarettes linked to the mining activities. One suspect, identified as the owner of the Hilux, was arrested at the scene and is assisting with investigations.
The exercise was supported by officials from the Agona Ahanta Police Command and management of GREL, who helped distinguish legitimate plantation workers from suspects.
All verified employees were released, while the 49 suspects have been handed over to the Agona Divisional Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
