NAIMOS intensifies crackdown on illegal sand winning in Ketu North

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), backed by the Artillery Brigade of the Ghana Army, launched a significant crackdown on illegal sand-winning activities in Ketu North Municipality, Volta Region. The operation focused on two key sites, Agbozume Klikor and Ohawu, where ongoing sand-winning operations were halted to safeguard the environment and restore compliance in the sand extraction sector.

As a result of the operation, 30 individuals were apprehended, and 35 tipper trucks were seized. Notably, many of the intercepted vehicles displayed Togolese registration plates, signaling potential cross-border concerns. The arrested individuals were turned over to the Dzodze District Police Station for further scrutiny, while the seized trucks were relocated to a secure location.

NAIMOS emphasized that this operation sends a strong signal that illegal sand-winning will be treated with the same gravity as other unauthorized mineral extraction methods. Unregulated sand winning poses serious threats, including degradation of farmland, road damage, community hazards, and environmental harm. Consequently, NAIMOS warned that the enforcement measures will extend beyond the sand excavators, targeting truck owners, transporters, and other entities that enable the movement of sand from unauthorized locations.