Videos circulating online capture about 20 illegal miners who took to their heels following an unexpected dawn raid by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force on Saturday, November 15, at a popular galamsey hotspot called “Yellow Face” at Wassa Abrehyia in the Western Region, as part of its intensified efforts to combat illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.

According to reports, many of the illegal miners began fleeing the site upon sighting the anti-galamsey taskforce in the enclave to escape arrest.

In the video, the illegal miners were seen running in different directions up a hill while a voice believed to be that of one of the NAIMOS taskforce members gave orders of gunshots.

Following this, the task force destroyed the makeshift shelters and equipment believed to be used for illegal mining activities. They set ablaze the structures and found evidence of widespread use of hard drugs and dynamites at the location.

NAIMOS says similar targeted actions will continue in the coming days and weeks as part of its broader strategy to disrupt illegal mining networks and clamp down on the growing menace of illicit drug use found at these sites.

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) was established on June 26, this year under the President Mahama led administartion and under the leadership of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in Accra. It was launched with support from the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, and the Minister for Defence, the late Dr. Omane Boamah.

As of November 2025, NAIMOS has conducted over 40 coordinated field operations nationwide, targeting illegal mining sites along major rivers (Pra, Ankobra, Offin) and in forest reserves. These operations have led to the seizure of hundreds of excavators and water-pumping machines, the arrest of dozens of illegal miners (both Ghanaian and foreign nationals), and the restoration of several degraded lands.

Meanwhile, in one of NAIMOS operations last week A notorious galamsey operator, Iddrisu Zakari, also known as Yaayaa, who carries out illegal mining activities in the Osino area, was been apprehended.

His arrest, which occurred on Monday, November 10, at around 6:06 pm, came after he met with NAIMOS operatives to discuss the release of his associates. Iddrisu Zakari is currently in the custody of the Ghana Police Service for further interrogation.

Illegal mining continues to pose a major challenge to the country, with several foreign nationals implicated and multiple arrests made. In June, NAIMOS warned criminal groups to vacate galamsey areas.

Weeks ago, the Commanding Officer of NAIMOS, Colonel Dominic Buah, signaled an imminent and aggressive crackdown on illegal miners.

“I would like to send this warning to illegal miners, their assignees, and financiers that they are the first or prime enemies of the state, and they will be dealt with as such. There will be no room for them to escape or to hide. NAIMOS will smoke them out very soon. There's no resting place for them,” he said at a stakeholder engagement at the Jubilee House on October 3, 2025.

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Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized that his government is not backing down in its fight against the longstanding menace of illegal mining (galamsey).

According to the President, the country will soon be cleared of the menace as the government plans to launch a programme in the coming days to reclaim degraded lands.

He added that youths in affected communities will be employed under the programme, each receiving a monthly stipend of GH₵1,500.

“We’re restoring degraded lands while creating thousands of jobs for young people in affected communities. I have asked the Minister of Finance to increase the budget allocation so that we can recruit more youth into forest tree planting and the Blue Water Guard to safeguard our water bodies.

"These youth are to be recruited from affected communities, and they will receive a monthly stipend of GHC1,500. I wish to commend journalists who persist in exposing environmental crime at great personal risk. Your bravery is noted, and it’s patriotic. I wish to assure you, as the President, that I will never give up the fight,” President Mahama said.

President Mahama made the remarks at the 2025 GJA/KGL National Awards held at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, November 8. Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Accra on October 3, the President said: “There are new chemicals that have come that allow you to treat water and take out the toxins and the heavy metals. One of them is called dowtine. The people came, and we sent them there. They took samples, tested. We are waiting for them to bring the results back.”

President Mahama urged patience in the long-running battle against galamsey, noting that declaring a state of emergency alone will not end the menace.

He said government advisors believe the country can overcome galamsey by adopting best practices in small-scale mining and technologies that neutralize or remove harmful chemicals from water bodies. He also pledged to act on calls for a state of emergency if his advisors recommend it.

“While we are fighting the menace, I am also saying we should uptake technology in order to protect the environment. So yes, let’s fight the illegal mining but at the same time, let’s bring the new technology that will help us protect our environment. Now with the elephant in the room, state of emergency, yes, I have the power to do it, but the president acts on the advice of the National Security Authority, and as at now, this moment, the National Security Authority believes that we can win the fight against galamsey without declaring a state of emergency. I want to assure you that the day they advise me otherwise, that boss, now we need a state of emergency, I won’t hesitate,” he added.

Despite renewed efforts, the canker continues to wreak havoc. The newly established National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force narrowly escaped death in a mob assault at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, during an operation that resulted in several arrests, including a Burkinabe national. Locals were seen in a viral video confronting the NAIMOS team and demanding the release of those arrested. NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf described the attack as “extremely and profoundly disappointing,” saying the officials “survived clearly by the mercy of God. If you look at how they were charged, the rest of the team could have lost their lives.”