NAIMOS launches ‘Operation Water Shield’ to crush illegal mining along major rivers

By: Godbless Asaana
‎The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has launched Operation Water Shield, a sustained national enforcement campaign aimed at protecting Ghana’s major rivers and critical water resources from the destructive effects of illegal mining.
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‎In a statement released on Friday, September 11, 2026, and signed by Paa Kwasi Shcandorf, this marks a shift from isolated enforcement raids to a sustained, intelligence-led campaign targeting illegal mining activities from river source areas to downstream communities and water-treatment facilities.
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‎According to NAIMOS, the operation will focus on some of Ghana’s most threatened river systems, including the Birim, Ankobra, Tano, Bia, Pra and Offin Rivers, as well as affected sections of the Black and White Volta systems.
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‎The Secretariat said strategic source areas and upper catchments whose degradation affects downstream water quality would also receive priority attention.
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‎Under Operation Water Shield, NAIMOS, in collaboration with relevant security and state agencies, will seek to protect strategic river sources, deny illegal miners access to riverbanks and waterways, dismantle mining logistics networks and disrupt the criminal and financial structures supporting illegal mining.
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‎The operation will also support the restoration of degraded water bodies and establish sustained monitoring to prevent illegal miners from returning to areas that have been cleared.
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‎NAIMOS said its ultimate objective is to “substantially degrade and contain illegal mining within protected watersheds”, while restricting the movement of heavy equipment into critical river systems and disrupting the financing and supply networks that sustain illegal mining.
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‎The Secretariat warned that enforcement under Operation Water Shield would be “firm, sustained and uncompromising, within the law.” It said illegal miners operating on water bodies and riverbanks should expect their activities to be disrupted and their equipment seized, immobilised or otherwise dealt with in accordance with applicable laws and established procedures.
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‎Excavators, chanfang machines, water pumps, dredging equipment and other machinery used to destroy water bodies will remain key targets of the operation.
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‎NAIMOS further said the campaign would extend beyond miners to facilitators, unauthorized fabricators of chanfang machines, and individuals or companies that rent or supply equipment for illegal mining. Such persons and entities, it said, would face increased scrutiny and enforcement action.
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‎The Secretariat has also called on traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, equipment owners, communities and the general public to support the operation by providing credible information on illegal mining activities and those who finance, facilitate or supply equipment for such operations.