Anti-Galamsey Task Force Purges Ankobra, Bonsa Rivers

An anti-galamsey task force recently conducted a massive raid. In fact, they destroyed over 300 illegal structures. The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) led this three-day operation. In particular, they worked along rivers in the Western Region. This action targeted sites that were polluting the Ankobra and Bonsa rivers. To that end, they worked with Blue Water Guards to achieve their goal.

The crackdown started last Thursday. Meanwhile, it ended on Saturday. A NAIMOS source stated the operation was very successful. Specifically, operatives burned 319 makeshift structures. They also destroyed 103 chanfang machines. Furthermore, they seized 17 pumping machines. Over 1,000 illegal miners fled the area. This swift action aligns with a promise from President John Dramani Mahama. He recently reaffirmed his government’s resolve to fight illegal mining. The President stressed that current laws are sufficient. Therefore, he did not agree with calls for a state of emergency. He also mentioned that the government had already repossessed nine forest reserves.

The operation followed a specific plan. For instance, on the first day, the joint task force struck the Ashem Line community. They targeted sites that were polluting the Ankobra River. The raid destroyed 99 structures and 54 chanfangs. In addition, they seized critical equipment. However, the action did not stop there. The next day, the team moved to the Bonsa River. They discovered miners had redirected the entire river. In response, they destroyed 15 more chanfangs. They also burned 11 pumping machines. The final day at Dwira Ashem was also successful. Operatives destroyed 200 structures. They even seized many personal items. This included everything from phones to refrigerators.

NAIMOS found pipelines going directly into rivers. Consequently, they dismantled sophisticated operations. These had turned flowing rivers into stagnant, polluted pools. The task force also disabled three excavators. They made them “totally inefficient” for future use. An anti-galamsey task force shows that an intelligence-led approach works. It gives hope for Ghana’s polluted rivers. The message is simple: illegal mining is no longer an unstoppable menace.

Source: Graphic Online