The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), working in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), has dismantled a large illegal mining network operating within the Oda River Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.
The intelligence-driven operation, carried out on October 23, 2025, led to the arrest of several illegal miners and nine armed individuals who were posing as National Security operatives.
NAIMOS revealed that the impostors, dressed in khaki uniforms, claimed to be acting on the orders of a “Major Jabari.” A search conducted on them uncovered a pistol with three rounds of ammunition, a toy pistol, a pump-action shotgun, cartridges, and handcuffs, all of which were confiscated.
During the operation, NAIMOS officers also apprehended suspects who attempted to bribe the task force with GH₵120,000 in exchange for the release of the arrested miners. The individuals involved were detained for attempted bribery of law enforcement officers.
Further investigations revealed that the illegal miners had established a settlement deep within the forest, complete with wooden structures and tents that served as their operational base. These facilities and equipment were destroyed to prevent future use.
NAIMOS reported widespread environmental devastation, including deforestation and water pollution, within the reserve.
The Director of Operations, Colonel Dominic Buah, praised the success of the joint mission, describing it as “a demonstration of inter-agency collaboration and effective enforcement.”
“No individual, group, or impostor will be allowed to exploit Ghana’s natural resources with impunity,” Colonel Buah stressed. “NAIMOS, working closely with Regional Security Councils, will continue to identify and dismantle illegal mining operations across the country to safeguard our forests and water bodies for future generations.”
The operation represents a major advance in the government’s ongoing campaign to restore degraded forest reserves and curb illegal mining activities nationwide.
, working in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC), has dismantled a large illegal mining network operating within the Oda River Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region.){kind=link}