Ghana Taskforce Rescues Major River From Illegal Mining

Ghana's National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) is winning the battle to save one of the country's most important rivers from destruction.

On January 17, a specialized taskforce launched coordinated raids along the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway, targeting illegal mining operations that had turned the once-pristine Tano River into a polluted wasteland. The team moved through three regions, starting before dawn and working systematically to dismantle the illegal sites.

At Bronikrom, illegal miners abandoned their excavator and fled when they spotted the approaching taskforce. The team immediately disabled the heavy machinery by removing monitors, control panels, and batteries to prevent its reuse.

The operation intensified at Adeji Mim, a suburb of Duayaw Nkwanta, where investigators discovered the most severe environmental damage. Illegal miners had built an entire network of makeshift structures along the Tano River, using the waterway directly for their operations and causing massive pollution.

The taskforce destroyed everything at the site. They burned down temporary shelters, dismantled washing platforms, and seized eight tricycles, 14 motors, two industrial grinders, and multiple water pumping machines that had been siphoning water from the struggling river.

The Ripple Effect

The Tano River serves countless communities downstream who depend on it for drinking water, farming, and fishing. By stopping the pollution at its source, NAIMOS is protecting the health and livelihoods of thousands of Ghanaians who had watched their vital water source slowly die.

The operation also sends a powerful message about environmental protection. Local communities have suffered for years as illegal mining poisoned their water and destroyed their landscapes, often feeling powerless to stop it.

Now, NAIMOS plans to station troops permanently at strategic locations along the river to maintain constant surveillance. This commitment to long-term protection means the Tano River finally has a fighting chance to recover its natural beauty and purity.

The taskforce's Director of Operations confirmed the team will continue working throughout the Bono and Ahafo regions until the river returns to health. They're not just clearing sites; they're reclaiming an environmental treasure for future generations.

One river saved is one step closer to a cleaner, healthier Ghana for everyone.