The Executive Secretary of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), Col. Dominic Buah, has announced the arrest of four armed suspects found actively engaged in illegal mining operations along the Ankobra River.
The arrest was made during an enforcement action conducted on Wednesday.
The NAIMOS Executive Secretary said the task force identified the illegal mining site during routine patrol operations conducted at approximately 1525 hours.
Upon arrival, task force personnel were confronted by the four suspects, who were armed with machetes and pump-action guns and were serving as both operators and security personnel for the site.
He said the suspects resisted arrest and made violent attempts to obstruct the operation. The task force, however, successfully subdued all four individuals, who were subsequently taken into custody.
He noted that during interrogation, the suspects alleged they were operating under the authority of certain National Security personnel identified as Ras, Mambo and Nana Teku, all believed to be based in Prestea.
The NAIMOS Executive Secretary said those names have been handed over to the Ghana Police Service to assist with ongoing investigations.
Col. Dominic Buah stated that the activities of the suspects have caused extensive destruction to lands and forests in the Dominase area and have significantly polluted the Ankobra River.
He said the task force retrieved several items from the illegal mining site during the operation. These include two pump-action guns, eighty-two AA cartridges for pump-action guns, three machetes, one water pumping machine and two SDLG control boards.
He added that two excavators were also identified at the site. Both were immobilised on the spot and rendered ineffective by detaching their control boards, owing to the immediate unavailability of low-bed transport services to remove them.
He said the four arrested suspects, together with their mobile phones and personal effects, were subsequently handed over to the Esiama District Police Command for further investigations and prosecution.
Col. Dominic Buah emphasised that the Secretariat continues to intensify anti-galamsey operations across the country, notwithstanding the risks posed by armed criminal elements at illegal mining sites.
He cautioned all persons engaged in illegal mining activities, as well as armed individuals providing security cover for such operations, against any form of resistance to NAIMOS task forces. He said the task force will not be deterred by such conduct and will take all necessary action to discharge its mandate.
The NAIMOS Executive Secretary further expressed appreciation for the continued intelligence support provided by members of the public, noting that such contributions remain vital to the success of the Secretariat’s operations.
He encouraged the public to continue reporting illegal mining activities and other related offences to NAIMOS or the nearest police station to assist the state in protecting Ghana’s natural environment and water bodies for present and future generations.
Adwoa Koramah Anokye-Gyimah, ISD
