By Felix Cofie
The second day of NAIMOS’ intensified operation in the Eastern Region began at first light on Friday, 5th December 2025, as officers advanced deeper into the Atiwa Forest to dismantle entrenched illegal mining networks. From 7:00 a.m. until nightfall, the team navigated the difficult terrain between Pimpong and Fante Ebuorho—two hotspots where galamsey activities had been thriving along the Ayensu River.
Upon entering the forest, the taskforce encountered widespread environmental destruction. At Pimpong, several acres had been ripped apart by deep mining pits, sculpted through months of continuous excavation. Operators had diverted the Ayensu River directly onto the site to support their activities, sending contaminated wastewater straight back into the natural river system.
One of the most disturbing discoveries was the presence of children aged between 13 and 16, working alongside adults who fled when security personnel approached. The minors were promptly removed from the area and placed in safe custody. Their involvement added a troubling human-rights dimension to the environmental crimes unfolding in the forest.
To halt the illegal operations, NAIMOS immobilised several excavators by removing control boards and monitors. Fuel stocks and pumping machines were also seized. Abandoned tools, clothing and makeshift shelters suggested the miners had received advance warning of the taskforce’s approach. Clear tracks showed that some excavators had been driven away only hours earlier—an indication of well-coordinated lookout networks used by the miners to evade arrest.
At Fante Ebuorho, the scene was much the same. The Ayensu River had been forced into an artificial channel carved into the mining zone, feeding washing pits before returning to the main river heavily polluted. Yet there were signs of recovery: sections of the river showed improved clarity in areas where illegal mining had been halted for months. Officers said it was evidence that environmental restoration is possible when interventions are sustained.
Residents who encountered the NAIMOS team expressed relief at the crackdown, noting that polluted water from galamsey activities had threatened farms and drinking sources. Many welcomed the taskforce’s renewed presence, saying they had begun seeing improvements in the river’s condition.
The discovery of minors in the operations prompted renewed concern about the growing trend of child involvement in illegal mining. Officers warned that if not addressed urgently, this could expose Ghana to international sanctions similar to those once imposed on the cocoa sector over child labour concerns.
Despite rough terrain, long distances, and limited communication between patrol units, NAIMOS pushed on with determination. Officers emphasised the need for improved communication equipment in each patrol vehicle to enhance coordination in difficult forest zones.
Day Two ended with NAIMOS firmly in control of key areas of the Atiwa Forest. Their operations continued to disrupt illegal networks, weaken miner confidence, and expose the full scale of environmental and human exploitation taking place.
The message from the forest was clear: wherever illegal mining persists, NAIMOS will pursue it.
