BY Daniel Bampoe
In a decisive show of force, the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service have launched a large-scale coordinated operation across three regions — Ashanti, Volta, and Ahafo — targeting individuals and groups believed to be behind recent violent attacks on state officials and security personnel engaged in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The nationwide swoop, which began at dawn on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, marks one of the most aggressive responses by the state to escalating lawlessness associated with illegal mining activities.
The intelligence-led operation is currently ongoing in the Ashanti Region (specifically at Dadwene and Anwona), the Volta Region (at Ehi), and the Ahafo Region (in Hwidiem, Kenyase, Goaso, and Marhani).
According to a press release issued by the Ghana Armed Forces’ Department of Public Relations, the mission is aimed at arresting suspects linked to the violent attacks on members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Police officers, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and several journalists who were assaulted in recent operations.
The move follows a series of alarming incidents in which anti-galamsey task force members were confronted, assaulted, and obstructed by organized groups allegedly backed by influential individuals.
The most notable of these attacks occurred on November 1, 2025, at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region, where the Director of Operations of NAIMOS, Colonel Buah (rtd), and his team were attacked by a mob reportedly led by the MP for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo.
During that incident, a reconnaissance team made up of NAIMOS officials and ten soldiers came under attack after arresting illegal miners operating along the Goaso-Hwidiem highway.
The MP and his alleged accomplices stormed the scene, forcibly released the suspects, and incited a mob of about 600 people to besiege the Hwidiem Police Station, vandalizing vehicles and threatening to burn down the facility.
The violent episode drew nationwide condemnation from civil society groups and the general public, prompting calls for stronger enforcement and protection for anti-galamsey operatives.
It is against this background that the joint military-police swoop has been launched.
Security sources say the operation is designed not only to arrest the perpetrators of the attacks but also to dismantle the entrenched illegal mining networks that continue to destroy Ghana’s environment and undermine national security.
In a statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin (Ghana Navy), Acting Director-General of Public Relations at the Ghana Armed Forces, the security agencies cautioned that anyone who attempts to obstruct or interfere with the ongoing anti-galamsey operations “will face the full force of the law.”
The statement stressed that the state will no longer tolerate attacks on its personnel or efforts to shield offenders through political or community influence.
“The Armed Forces and the Police Service wish to assure the general public that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and security of well-meaning inhabitants of these towns and communities.
They are encouraged to remain calm and go about their regular duties without fear or panic,” the statement added.
