Changfans on River Tano have reduced thanks to NAIMOS – NAIMOS Spokesperson

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has reported a significant reduction in the number of changfan machines operating on the River Tano, according to a spokesperson for the organization. In a Facebook post on October 30, 2026, NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf stated that a team of 15 journalists accompanied officials on a recent visit to the river to assess the impact of the organization's Operation Water Shield campaign.

Schandorf credited the sustained enforcement efforts led by Colonel K. S. Appiah, the Director of Operations at NAIMOS, for the observed reduction in changfans. He emphasized that while the reduction is an important step, it does not immediately restore the river to its original state. "The destruction of hundreds of changfans on the Tano River doesn’t immediately make it pure, but it’s a crucial starting point," he explained.

NAI MOS has launched Operation Water Shield, a sustained, intelligence-led enforcement campaign aimed at protecting major rivers and water resources from illegal mining. This campaign, which began in September 2026, targets illegal mining activities along river systems, dismantles mining machinery, and prevents miners from returning to cleared areas. The priority water bodies include the Tano, Birim, Ankobra, Bia, Pra, and Offin rivers, as well as sections of the Black and White Volta systems.

The latest assessment highlights ongoing concerns over the environmental damage caused by galamsey, including river pollution and land degradation. Schandorf noted that while the reduction in changfans is a positive development, further work is needed to secure the river and support its recovery. NAIMOS will continue its surveillance and enforcement efforts as part of President John Dramani Mahama's vision to restore water bodies to their natural condition, focusing on sustained patrols, preventing reoccupation of cleared areas, and addressing the networks and equipment suppliers that facilitate illegal mining.