Three Chinese arrested as anti-galamsey taskforce raids Hiawa Koofrom

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its nationwide clampdown on illegal mining, arresting three Chinese nationals during a targeted operation at Hiawa Koofrom in the Western Region.

The operation, conducted after credible intelligence was received from an informant, also led to the seizure of a pump-action shotgun with four cartridges, a Nissan Navara pickup, and two excavators believed to have been used in destructive mining along the Ankobrah River.

According to the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu-Kwakye, the task force acted swiftly on a tip-off that included the GPS coordinates of the illegal mining site.

The team reportedly left for Hiawa Koofrom at about 9:10 a.m. and arrived to find both Chinese and Ghanaian miners operating illegally along the river.

However, several suspects managed to flee into the forest after being alerted by local motorbike riders about the approaching task force. Despite this, three Chinese nationals were apprehended at the site.

Mr Ofosu-Kwakye noted that the task force also confiscated mobile phones belonging to the suspects and uncovered large heaps of sand and paydirt, clear evidence of widespread environmental degradation along the Ankobrah River.

He described the raid as another major success in the government’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, emphasizing that the operation demonstrates NAIMOS’s resolve to protect Ghana’s water bodies and natural resources.

“The intelligence-led action at Hiawa Koofrom reflects our commitment to dismantling illegal mining networks that continue to destroy the environment,” the minister said.

He reaffirmed the government’s determination to sustain the momentum of the anti-galamsey campaign through continuous monitoring and strong enforcement.

Illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, remains a persistent challenge in Ghana, with devastating effects on rivers, farmlands, and ecosystems.

The latest arrests highlight the government’s effort to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and restore degraded lands across mining-prone areas.