Omanghana
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 19 people suspected of engaging in illegal mining near the community police station at Mpohor Fiase in Ghana’s Western Region.
The operation has triggered public concern because the alleged illegal mining site was reportedly operating in plain sight and close to a police facility.
NAIMOS launched the raid following complaints and direct intelligence received from farmers, residents and traditional leaders about the open nature of the mining activities in the community.
The task force reportedly conducted reconnaissance to assess the location and the scale of the operation before moving into the area.
During the raid, personnel recovered GH¢120,000 in cash from one of the suspects. A pump-action shotgun and four rounds of live ammunition were also seized.
The task force dismantled the mining setup by destroying 16 chanfang machines, nine water pumps and three makeshift structures allegedly used to support the operation.
An excavator found at the site was disabled after officials removed and confiscated some of its essential operating components. The action was intended to prevent the heavy-duty machine from being used to continue mining activities at the location.
The proximity of the site to the community police station has led to demands for an investigation into how such an operation could have functioned openly without intervention from local law enforcement.
Residents and media commentators have questioned whether the situation resulted from negligence or possible complicity. No evidence establishing police involvement has been publicly presented, and the relevant authorities have yet to announce the outcome of any internal investigation.
Illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, remains a major environmental concern in the Western Region and other mining areas across Ghana. The activity has been linked to the destruction of farmlands, pollution of rivers, degradation of forest reserves and the loss of livelihoods in affected communities.
NAIMOS confirmed that all 19 suspects and the recovered exhibits had been handed over to the appropriate police command. They are expected to undergo profiling and further investigation before prosecutors determine the criminal charges to be filed.
Authorities are also expected to investigate the ownership of the seized equipment, the source of the recovered cash and the circumstances under which the mining operation was established near the police station.
Source: Omanghana
