NAIMOS to Expand Anti-Illegal Mining Operations to Two Additional Rivers by Year-End
Ghana's National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) plans to extend Operation Watershield to two additional undisclosed major river bodies before the end of 2026.
In Brief
- •Ghana's National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) plans to extend Operation Watershield to two additional undisclosed major river bodies before the end of 2026.
- •Between June 13 and September 30, 2026, NAIMOS destroyed 1,970 chanfang machines and 863 structures while seizing over 100 excavators from illegal mining sites.
- •The secretariat is collaborating with the Ghana Navy to establish a dedicated riverine unit aimed at maintaining permanent patrols on cleared rivers like the Ankobra.
- •Complementing river security, NAIMOS is launching Operation Green Shield to combat illegal mining within the Atiwa Forest Reserve.
Why It Matters
Illegal mining, locally termed galamsey, continues to cause severe environmental degradation, polluting vital freshwater sources and destroying critical forest reserves across Ghana. NAIMOS's strategy shifts focus from temporary raids toward permanent patrol units and phased transfers of security responsibilities to prevent miners from reoccupying cleared waterways.
Key Details
- Review Period
- June 13 – September 30, 2026
- Chanfangs Destroyed
- 1,970
- Structures Destroyed
- 863
- Excavators Seized
- Over 100
- Active River Operations
- Birim River and Ankobra River
Context & Background
Illegal small-scale mining in Ghana has degraded major watersheds and forest ecosystems for years. Multi-agency enforcement task forces under state secretariats like NAIMOS combine military, naval, and environmental protection agencies to police river channels and headwaters.
What To Watch
Expansion of Operation Watershield to two additional undisclosed major Ghanaian water bodies before the end of 2026.
Original Reporting & Sources
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