The National Anti Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) on Sunday, June 15, seized and disabled four excavators used by illegal miners in Kyebi—a town that has become a symbol of the galamsey menace in Ghana.
The anti-galamsey task force stormed the Eastern Region townships of Asikam and Potrase, where they intercepted mining operations along the Birim River.
Upon the team’s arrival, the illegal miners fled the site, but four excavators were found and rendered inoperable after the removal of their control boards.
This operation is part of intensified government efforts under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, led by Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to clamp down on illegal mining activities that continue to ravage Ghana’s environment.
Kyebi, a known hotspot for illegal mining over the years, has been left with dangerous open pits scattered across the community—some located alarmingly close to schools.
These gaping holes not only scar the land but pose a grave threat to children and residents alike.
The ongoing destruction around the Birim River and in residential zones has turned what was once a peaceful town into a hazardous zone, igniting fresh concerns about the safety of students and the environment.
The Police in the Eastern Region have since joined forces with NAIMOS to track down the fleeing miners and ensure they face prosecution.
This latest crackdown is part of intensified government efforts led by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, under Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, to curb illegal mining through coordinated and timely interventions. T
he Kyebi operation serves as a wake-up call to strengthen vigilance and enforcement against galamsey perpetrators, especially in vulnerable communities where innocent lives are at stake.
