The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 30 illegal miners at the Cape Three Point Forest Reserve and other places in the Western and Western North regions as it stepped up its operations to clamp down on illegal mining activities across the country.
The arrest of the 30 adds to the over 1,500 people who have been rounded up at various illegal mining sites this year.
Those in the grip of NAIMOS include two Chinese, believed to be financiers of the illegal mining business, otherwise known as galamsey.
Within the week, NAIMOS carried out four operations resulting in the seizure of various mining equipment, including six excavators, 65 water-pumping machines and seven chanfang machines, as well as 14 mobile phones, 28 wraps of Indian hemp and a Toyota Land Cruiser.
The team also picked up a cash of GH¢10,200 from two mining sites.
Assurance
At a media briefing in Accra yesterday, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, stressed that NAIMOS would stop at nothing until every illegal miner was flushed out, water bodies were restored to their natural state, and forest reserves were restored.
"At the meeting with the civil society organisations (CSOs) at the Presidency recently, we assured Ghanaians that we will provide periodic updates on the activities of NAIMOS, and that is what we are doing now.
"We will take every measure to protect our land and water resources, and nothing will stop us," he stressed.
The Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mawusi Ama Mawunyefia, said the seizure of the items and arrest of the illegal miners were just the tip of the iceberg, as more intelligence-led operations would be taken to clear all miscreants undertaking galamsey.
Touching on the fate of persons arrested during the operations, she said the Attorney-General's Department was working on the prosecutions in line with the country's mining laws.
She said the government would establish specialised courts to fast-track the prosecution of mining-related offenders.
"The Bill has been approved by Cabinet and will be put before Parliament as soon as the House reconvenes later this month," she said.
Ms Mawunyefia added that while enforcement measures were ongoing to rid the forests, water bodies and other sites of galamsey, efforts were also ongoing to provide sustainable livelihoods for mining communities.
She said the ministry was currently engaging large-scale mining communities to cede off parts of concessions for the implementation of the responsible cooperative mining scheme.
Details on operations
Throwing more light on the operations of NAIMOS, she said coordinated swoops were carried out across the Western and Western North regions, where several "powerful illegal mining networks" were dismantled and foreign sponsors arrested.
She explained that between October 5 and 9, NAIMOS undertook three crackdowns at Gangway (Aboso) along the Ankobra River, the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve at Jomoro and Cape Three Point Forest Reserve.
"Armed NAIMOS operatives torched dozens of wooden shanties that had long served as operational bases for illegal miners, drug dealers and gamblers.
The raid sent hundreds of suspected galamseyers fleeing or surrendering as thick clouds of smoke rose above the settlement," she said about how the operations at Gangway were carried out.
Ms Mawunyefia added that in collaboration with the Nzema East Blue Water Guards, NAIMOS undertook a riverine operation along the Gwira Eshiam to the Anyinase stretch of the Ankobra River, where massive illegal mining activities, including dredging and river diversions, were seen.
"Over 100 makeshift shelters were burnt, while the task force destroyed seven chanfang machines and seized 23 water-pumping machines, gas cylinders and other mining tools," she said.
Financiers
Ms Mawunyefia said the most dramatic phase of the operation by NAIMOS occurred last Wednesday when the team raided the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in the Jomoro District in the Western North Region, where two Chinese were intercepted and a Land Cruiser they were using seized.
"On site, the task force uncovered a fully operational galamsey base operating under the guise of the Jomoro Community Mining Project.
The raid led to the seizure of four excavators, two heavy water pumps, and the destruction of 12 makeshift structures," she explained.
She said investigations had revealed that the Chinese were the key financiers behind illegal mining activities in Jomoro, allegedly operating under a concession issued by one Chief Nana Kwame Nkrumah.
She said the two suspects were subsequently transferred to the NAIMOS headquarters in Accra for interrogation.
Touching on last Thursday’s operation at Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, she said 28 illegal miners were arrested and several mining equipment were seized.
"The operation uncovered severe forest destruction, and reinforces NAIMOS's commitment to safeguarding Ghana's natural resources and eradicating illegal mining," she said.
