The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) says its ongoing illegal mining crackdown has led to 237 arrests across Ghana, as authorities intensify efforts to combat galamsey and its devastating environmental impact.
Speaking at an Editors’ Forum on Wednesday, March 25, Director of Operations at NAIMOS, Col Dominic Buah, disclosed that most of those apprehended are foreign nationals, a development he said reflects the scale of external involvement in illegal mining activities.
“We have made 237 arrests, the majority of them are foreigners,” he stated.
Equipment Destroyed in Enforcement Operations
Col Buah said the arrests are part of a broader nationwide operation that has also targeted machinery used in illegal mining.
According to him, enforcement teams have destroyed a significant number of excavators and chanfang machines deployed at galamsey sites.
“94 excavators have been destroyed so far… almost 3,000 chanfangs have been destroyed,” he revealed.
He explained that in cases where equipment cannot be immediately transported from mining areas, officials remove essential parts to prevent further use.
“In the field, when we do not have load beds, we remove vital components so that they cannot use the excavator again,” he added.
Signs of Progress in Anti-Galamsey Fight
NAIMOS says the operation has recorded a strike rate of 87.7 percent, which Col Buah described as evidence of progress in the fight against illegal mining. He noted that one of the clearest indicators of impact is the reduced visibility of excavators at illegal mining sites.
“At the various galamsey sites, the use of excavators has gone down drastically,” he said, adding that many of the machines now found in such areas are already immobilised.
The latest figures are expected to reignite public debate over the long-term effectiveness of Ghana’s anti-galamsey campaign.
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