The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has reportedly destroyed 1,970 chanfang machines during 738 anti-illegal mining operations conducted over four months, highlighting the scale of enforcement efforts against galamsey in Ghana. Editorial Ethics & Independence
The figures point to a sustained campaign targeting equipment used in illegal mining, particularly operations carried out along rivers and in environmentally sensitive areas.
Chanfang machines are commonly used in small-scale mining activities, including operations on water bodies, where they can contribute to sediment pollution and damage to river ecosystems.
The latest figures also raise a broader question about how enforcement gains can be maintained after equipment is destroyed and illegal mining sites are cleared.
Ghana’s experience has shown that some operators return to previously targeted locations, making continued monitoring and prevention important parts of the fight against galamsey.
The reported figures come amid wider efforts by NAIMOS and other state agencies to disrupt illegal mining networks, remove equipment from water bodies and protect environmentally sensitive areas.
The Secretariat operates as a coordinating body bringing together security institutions to support enforcement against illegal mining across the country.
Equipment destruction targets illegal mining infrastructure
Chanfang machines are used in mining operations to pump and process water and materials.
When deployed unlawfully in rivers and other restricted areas, such equipment can support mining activities that disturb riverbeds, increase sediment levels and damage aquatic habitats.
Destroying the machines is intended to make it harder for operators to resume mining immediately after enforcement teams leave.
However, the long-term effectiveness of the approach depends on whether authorities can prevent replacement equipment from entering affected areas and stop miners from returning to cleared sites. Corrections Policy
The challenge was illustrated by a recent operation along the Tano River at Asemkrom in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region.
NAIMOS reported destroying 61 chanfang machines on October 15, 2026, and another 31 during follow-up action on October 18.
Three suspected operators were arrested during the first operation, while water pumps, a generator and outboard motors were also recovered or seized.
The exercise formed part of Operation WATER SHIELD, a campaign aimed at protecting water bodies by restricting illegal mining access to rivers and riverbanks, dismantling equipment and preventing previously cleared locations from being occupied again.
Environmental consequences remain a major concern
Illegal mining continues to threaten Ghana’s rivers, forests and agricultural land.
Mining activity in waterways can increase turbidity, introduce pollutants and disrupt ecosystems that support fish populations and surrounding communities.
Polluted rivers can also create difficulties for water treatment facilities, potentially increasing the cost and complexity of supplying safe drinking water.
Communities that depend on rivers for household use, farming and fishing may face additional pressure when water quality deteriorates.
The environmental consequences extend beyond water pollution. Unregulated mining can leave deep pits, remove vegetation, damage farmland and expose surrounding areas to erosion.
Where land is not properly reclaimed, these effects may persist long after mining activities have stopped. Editorial Standards
The government’s anti-galamsey campaign has therefore combined enforcement with efforts to restore damaged land and encourage mining within authorised and regulated arrangements.
In March 2026, NAIMOS reported that its wider operations had resulted in the destruction of nearly 3,000 chanfang machines, the seizure of 94 excavators and the arrest of 237 suspects over approximately 10 months.
Sustained monitoring needed after raids
Although destroying equipment can interrupt illegal mining, enforcement agencies face the continuing challenge of preventing operators from rebuilding their activities elsewhere or returning to sites after raids.
NAIMOS has acknowledged this difficulty in its operations along the Tano River, where follow up patrols detected renewed mining activity just days after an earlier intervention.
The experience highlights why regular river patrols, intelligence gathering and community cooperation are necessary to protect locations that have already been cleared. Privacy Policy & Terms
Local communities can also contribute by reporting suspicious activity and helping authorities identify attempts to re-establish illegal operations.
At the same time, efforts to provide lawful livelihood opportunities and improve compliance with mining regulations may help reduce the incentives that draw people into illegal mining.
For the government, the challenge is to turn enforcement figures into lasting environmental improvements.
The number of machines destroyed and operations conducted provides one measure of activity, but changes in water quality, restored land, reduced illegal mining and the prevention of repeat offences are also important indicators of progress.
The reported destruction of 1,970 chanfang machines in 738 operations over four months represents a substantial enforcement effort.
Whether those actions produce lasting results will depend on consistent monitoring, accountability and the protection of Ghana’s natural resources beyond the immediate aftermath of each operation.
As the campaign continues, the focus will remain on disrupting illegal mining networks while ensuring that rivers, forests and communities receive lasting protection from the effects of galamsey.