NAIMOS intensifies galamsey fight in Western North with Samreboi swoop
The national anti-illegal mining task force, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), has ramped up operations in the Western North Region, executing a decisive swoop on a suspected illegal mining site at Samreboi in the Amenfi West Municipality. The mission, carried out on 7 December 2025, forms part of an intensified nationwide campaign against galamsey.
The operation took place between 15:45 and 19:23 hours under strict command and discipline as officers navigated rough terrain to reach the coordinates. Upon arrival, they found signs of active mining, although the operators had fled ahead of the raid. Nevertheless the task force proceeded to secure the site, dismantle three pumping machines, recover an active control board used for coordinating washing operations, disable an engine, and destroy several water hoses to prevent immediate resumption of illicit activities.
Inspectors who surveyed the site noted significant excavation activity and large amounts of mineral-bearing material awaiting washing — a clear indicator of the scale and organisation of the illegal operation. The area showed visible environmental damage with disturbed soil, water runoff, and degraded terrain.
NAIMOS leadership praised the swift and coordinated action of the task force and reiterated that the government remains committed to protecting Ghana’s forest reserves, water bodies, and farmlands from destructive mining practices. The Secretary of NAIMOS described the Samreboi operation as a demonstration of resolve, warning illegal miners that there is no safe haven in any part of the country.
This latest swoop is part of a broader crackdown that has recorded several successes in the Western North and Ashanti Regions since October 2025. In past operations the task force confiscated illegal mining equipment, arrested suspects, and destroyed machinery used in riverbank and forest-reserve mining.
Environmental and community advocates have welcomed the intensification of raids, stressing the importance of sustained action, proper post-operation rehabilitation, and long-term monitoring to prevent re-invasion. They also call for structural measures such as alternative livelihood programmes, reforestation, and stricter enforcement of mining laws under the current administration.
As the campaign continues, many hope these efforts will restore degraded lands, protect water bodies, and signal a new era for environmental governance in Ghana — one where “no galamsey zone” is respected and enforced across all mining-prone regions.
