NAIMOS finds illegal miners replacing destroyed Changfan machines along Pra River

National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has intensified its efforts to combat illegal mining along the Pra River following a recent raid. During a follow-up operation, NAIMOS discovered that miners were replacing the equipment destroyed during the initial operation. At the Adiemra site, the team found new Changfan machines that illegal miners had brought in to replace the burnt equipment from the previous day.

One of these newly installed machines was recovered by soldiers, while others were set on fire. Another part of the operation revealed two rafts anchored in mining pits, posing challenges for the soldiers to reach them. One soldier dived into the water to retrieve a raft, which was subsequently destroyed. The return of mining equipment to previously raided areas underscores the difficulty of maintaining gains in the fight against illegal mining.

The operation also highlighted the impact of illegal mining on local communities, including the destruction of a borehole in Anwona Mensah, which has affected access to safe water. This latest operation is part of NAIMOS' Operation Water Shield, targeting illegal mining along the Pra River in the degraded areas of the Adansi South District in the Central and Ashanti regions.

The developments have sparked calls for increased support from local authorities to sustain the impact of enforcement operations and prevent illegal miners from returning to cleared sites.