The Director of Operations for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Colonel K.S. Appiah, has disclosed that between 13th June when he assumed office and 30th September, 2026, NAIMOS conducted 738 operational activities covering approximately 50,662 kilometres to clamp down on illegal mining across the country.

Addressing his first press engagement this morning , October 22, 2026, Col. Appiah said the operations which included reconnaissance, mobile and riverine patrols, raids, special operations and community engagement, have significantly disrupted illegal mining networks.

"During the period, our task forces recovered 74 firearms and 551 rounds of ammunition. They also seized excavators, pumps, vehicles and other equipment used to support illegal mining. Over the period, about 1,970 changfan machines and 863 makeshift structures have been destroyed, disrupting mining capacity and infrastructure that sustains it," he said.

Suspects, he added, were apprehended and handed over to appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution, noting that NAIMOS' responsibility extends to preserving evidence and supporting the justice process to produce credible deterrence.

Col. Appiah expressed profound gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, for his political will to confront illegal mining and to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Military High Command and heads of security agencies for their support as well.

He particularly acknowledged the Ghana Army and Ghana Navy for their cooperation in extending enforcement across difficult land and riverine environments.

He further commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for his strategic guidance.

He also commended his predecessor for laying the foundation for the secretariat.

He said NAIMOS' strategic purpose is to protect critical water bodies and forest reserves and enable environmental recovery through intelligence-led joint and interagency operations.

Upon assuming office on June 13, 2026, he developed an operational design that seeks to secure Ghana's strategic watershed and river systems from source to estuary.

"Protecting headwaters, disrupting mining along river corridors and safeguarding downstream communities are interconnected tasks. The desired end state is substantially reduced illegal mining in priority areas, effective control of illegal miners and their heavy equipment, disrupted criminal networks and monitoring and protection arrangements in place," he stated.

Col. Appiah added that NAIMOS' presence is organized around Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and supported by Temporary Operating Bases (TOBs) to maintain pressure on hotspots and protect gains.

In the Western Region, FOBs is at Esiama, Asankragua and Agona, supported by TOBs at Prestea and Kikam. 

A forward base supports Western North, particularly across the Tano and Bia river systems.

In the Eastern Region, the Kyebi FOB supports operations along the Birim and its tributaries and within the Atewa landscape. 

In Ashanti, Tepa and Manso Adubia FOBs sustain enforcement and protect reclamation sites.

Operations have also been conducted in Central, Bono, Ahafo, Savannah and Northern operational areas through coordinated deployments with military and police commands.

Giving highlights of the operations, he recounted that, in the Western Region, operations targeted illegal mining along the Ankobra and Butre river systems and across the Wassa and coastal mining belts including underground mining sites in the Mpohor area and plantations in Ahanta West, and encroachment along railway corridors.

The Navy Special Boat Squadron has been deployed on Operation Watershield, strengthening access to difficult river sections.

Joint ground and riverine operations disrupted changfan activity and destroyed pumping equipment and camps along the Ankobra.

In Western North, intelligence-led operations across Tano and Bia rivers in Aowin, Suaman, Juaboso, Bodi and Sefwi areas recovered heavy equipment and firearms.

In the Eastern Region, he noted that "along the Birim from Apapam to the Waterworks, there are no excavators along the river," adding that enforcement in the Osino area supported protection of the Birim catchment.

In Ashanti, operations disrupted machinery across Amansie, Obuasi and adjoining areas while patrols maintained pressure on river-based activity.

In Central Region, operations along the Pra Corridor at Hemang disrupted a substantial concentration of changfan machines with a major operation planned on the Pra Corridor. 

Joint action in Asin was done with the Forestry Commission.

In Bono and Ahafo Regions, enforcement at Amomaso, Asutifi North, Dormaa, Akwamu and adjoining locations disrupted camps while operations at Wawase and Fante in Savannah demonstrated ability to extend enforcement to dispersed hotspots along the Black Volta Corridor.

Col. Appiah said enforcement also included operations against illegal sand winning and loam mining to protect land and water bodies.

"Operators must respect required authorizations and environmental safeguards. NAIMOS will continue to support actions against unauthorized activity," he warned.

Highlighting “Operation Watershield” which started end of July on the Birim and moved to the Ankobra, he said two more major river bodies will be tackled before the end of this year but for strategic reasons he declined to name them.

"The next phase will place greater emphasis on securing gains after clearance. Illegal operators will not be allowed to return once intensive operation ends. On the Ankobra, in close coordination with the Ghana Navy, we plan to deploy a dedicated riverine unit to sustain patrols, deter return of changfan operators, and consolidate gains," he said.

Limited operations have been done on the Offin with full ground and riverine actions planned.

He announced “Operation Greenshield”, a planned forest protection intervention commencing with the Atewa Forest Reserve to disrupt illegal mining, deny renewed access and create conditions for sustained protection of the strategic watershed.

"The concept for Atewa follows three stages: Clear and disrupt, Hold and stabilize, and Transition and handover. Specially trained personnel will conduct forest operations, followed by sustained patrols and surveillance," he explained.

The intended outcome is a reserve cleared and stabilized with routine protection progressively transferred to Forestry Commission guards.

"Our enforcement, after enforcement, we cannot remain permanently in those areas, so we should be able to transition to other agencies to take over monitoring," he said.

Going forward, Col. Appiah said sustaining effectiveness requires mobility, serviceable boats, reliable communication, and recovery of heavy equipment to prevent return to illegal operations, adding that government through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has committed logistics support and funding.

"Our operational focus will continue to target the equipment, supplies, and facilitators who sustain illegal mining. Intelligence, field enforcement, and investigations must support one another," he said.

He pledged professionalism, accountability and integrity, saying personnel will act within authority and preserve evidence but will reserve right to self-defence against hostile acts.

"We must judge progress by whether cleared areas remain secure, illegal activity declines, cases advance through justice, and environmental recovery becomes measurable," he noted.

He also stressed that community engagement remains integral with traditional authorities, district assemblies and residents providing credible information, revealing that, in the past two months, NAIMOS received many whistleblower calls with GPS locations.

He appealed to media and civil society for accurate reporting.

"To those engaged in illegal mining, our direction is clear. Mining in our rivers, forests, farms, and plantations must stop. Our enforcement effort will continue against illegal miners and networks sustaining them," Col. Appiah warned.

"Individuals and groups who continue to pollute our rivers, degrade our forests, and decimate critical national infrastructure, including rail lines, will be dealt with decisively and ruthlessly."