NAIMOS destroys 1,970 chanfangs, 863 makeshift structures in four-month crackdown

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has reported the destruction of 1,970 chanfangs and 863 makeshift structures used for illegal mining over a four-month period between June 13 and September 30, 2026. These operations, which spanned 738 activities conducted across 50,662 kilometres, aimed to disrupt illegal mining networks and protect Ghana’s rivers and environmentally sensitive areas.

Colonel K.S. Appiah, Director of Operations at NAIMOS, disclosed these figures at a media briefing on October 22. The operations involved various methods such as reconnaissance, mobile and riverine patrols, raids, special operations, and community engagement. They were part of an intelligence-led strategy to safeguard strategic watersheds and river systems, preventing illegal miners from returning to cleared areas by focusing on conditions needed for lasting environmental security.

During the period, NAIMOS task forces also recovered 74 firearms and 551 rounds of ammunition, along with equipment like excavators, water pumps, vehicles, and other assets used in illegal mining. The operations covered the Western, Western North, Central, Eastern, and Ashanti regions, as well as Bono, Savannah, and the Northern Region.