The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has sustained its offensive against illegal mining on the Tano River at Asemkrom in the Aowin District of the Western North Region.

The latest operation on October 18, 2026, comes just days after a major enforcement exercise on October 15, 2026, following intelligence of extensive illegal in-stream mining activities on the Tano River near the Jema-Asekrom Forest Reserve.

During the October 15 operation, the NAIMOS task force destroyed 61 changfan machines operating on platforms directly on the river, retrieved six water pumping machines and a generator, and arrested three suspected operators who were handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.

However, follow-up riverine patrols conducted on October 18 revealed that the illegal miners had returned to the same location and mounted new machines, continuing the pollution and degradation of the river.

The task force, acting on the new intelligence, swiftly moved to the site and in a decisive operation, took out an additional 92 changfan machines, effectively crippling the illegal mining operations on that stretch.

NAIMOS says the sustained operations demonstrate its unwavering commitment to protecting Ghana's water bodies, forest reserves and the environment from the menace of illegal mining.

The secretariat has assured the public that it will maintain continuous surveillance and sustained operations along all major rivers across the country and will not relent in its efforts to flush out illegal miners.