NAIMOS seizes 10 excavators in raid on illegal mining sites along River Pra

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has seized ten excavators and destroyed multiple pumping machines during a targeted operation along the River Pra in Adansi South District, Ashanti Region. The operation, codenamed Operation Water Shield, uncovered extensive illegal mining at Adiemra and Tweapease near New Edubiase, where miners had diverted and polluted sections of the river. A team deployed on Monday identified mining activities affecting wetlands at Subriso before advancing to Adiemra and Tweapease, where operations were found adjacent to farmlands and within restricted zones around major water bodies. At Adiemra, officials shut down a site operated under the claim of Alhaji Shaibu Iddi, whose presented documents were deemed invalid as they pertained to different companies and locations. A man identified as Evans Badamawu, describing himself as the site manager for the same Alhaji Shaibu Iddi, was questioned during the raid. Pumping machines were discovered positioned directly inside the River Pra, and aerial surveillance revealed widespread siltation and pollution, with mining waste entering the waterway from multiple points. The degraded condition of the river made sections indistinguishable from surrounding mining scars when viewed from above. NAIMOS confirmed the destruction of several pumps and the arrest of individuals linked to the operations, including those claiming licences without proper authorization. Farmers in the affected communities expressed relief at the intervention, hoping the restored river would safeguard their livelihoods. The operation is part of broader efforts to halt illegal mining’s environmental toll on Ghana’s water resources, with NAIMOS stating the taskforce will sustain enforcement in upcoming phases. This action follows heightened public concern over river degradation and aligns with national strategies to combat galamsey’s ecological impact across the country.