NAIMOS Arrests Chinese and Burkinabè Nationals in Nationwide Illegal Mining Crackdown

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force has arrested two Chinese nationals and intercepted a group of Burkinabè workers in separate anti-galamsey operations conducted across the Western North and Western Regions.

The coordinated operations, carried out on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, were part of the government’s intensified efforts to combat illegal mining activities threatening Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.

Chinese Nationals Arrested in Tano Anwia Forest Reserve

Acting on intelligence, the Task Force stormed the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve in Jomoro, where illegal mining activities were reportedly taking place along the Tano River.

Access to the area was initially blocked by forest guards, but operatives eventually entered the reserve, discovering an active mining site. During the raid, a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 attempted to escape, but two Chinese nationals on board were arrested. A third suspect fled the scene.

The team found four excavators—three already immobilised and one disabled during the operation. They also uncovered evidence of river diversion, two heavy-duty water pumps, and 12 makeshift mining structures, all of which were destroyed on-site.

Items seized included GH¢10,050 in cash, mobile phones, radio communication gadgets, fuel drums, and electronic control boards.

The two arrested suspects have been transferred to NAIMOS headquarters in Accra for further investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that the duo were operating under the guise of the Jomoro Community Mining Project, reportedly sanctioned by a local chief, Nana Kwame Nkansah.

NAIMOS believes the Chinese nationals acted as financiers of illegal mining operations in the area, providing logistical and financial support to local miners.

“NAIMOS will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any foreign nationals or local sponsors found to be aiding or engaging in galamsey,” the Task Force warned in a statement.

Burkinabè Workers Intercepted in Essipong Operation

In a separate operation at Essipong, near Asankrangwa in the Western Region, the Task Force visited Bugart Mining, where Burkinabè nationals were discovered working near the Kwama stream and a major road.

Although the site owners claimed to have obtained a mining licence in 2012, NAIMOS operatives raised serious concerns about the employment of foreign nationals without proper authorization.

A CAT excavator was immobilised, and the site owners were directed to report to the NAIMOS headquarters in Accra on Thursday, October 9, along with all Burkinabè workers, for verification and further questioning.

Government’s Renewed Commitment

The latest operations underscore the government’s renewed determination to eliminate illegal mining (galamsey) and enforce strict compliance with mining regulations. NAIMOS reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the crackdown and ensuring that both foreign nationals and local collaborators face the full force of the law.