The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 13 suspected illegal miners during a fresh raid at Osino in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The operation, which took place days after a previous clear-out, resulted in the destruction of mining equipment found at the site. According to reports from MyJoyOnline, the arrested individuals included a 15-year-old boy who claimed he was seeking to earn money for his education.
The teenager, identified only as Bernard, stated that he had travelled from Navrongo to the site and had started work that same morning. He claimed he was brought to the site by someone else to earn money to pay for his own education. Other detained miners alleged it was their first time at the site and that they had come simply to make a living for the day. The swift return of miners to the site raises questions about the effectiveness of periodic sweeps by law enforcement.
NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf revealed that his outfit had received intelligence about the miners' return four days after the previous clear-out. Operatives arrived to find equipment already reassembled at the very spot where it had been destroyed before. This pattern strengthens the case for keeping security personnel permanently stationed in known illegal mining hotspots rather than relying on periodic sweeps.
Schandorf stated that the recurrence at Osino backs a proposal already floated by the sector minister for continuous deployment in affected areas. The government intends to commit more resources toward such arrangements to stop miners from simply waiting out enforcement teams before returning. This move aims to sustain the gains from national operations and prevent the resurgence of illegal mining activities.
Schandorf also called for police stations in mining communities to respond to illegal activity without always waiting for NAIMOS teams to travel from headquarters. He argued that faster local response would help sustain the gains from national operations. Additionally, he noted that local communities remain divided, with some residents benefiting financially from galamsey while others actively feed information to the task force.
The Osino raid is the latest in a string of enforcement actions under the government's ongoing campaign against illegal mining, which continues to damage rivers and farmland in several regions. Reports have highlighted the devastating impact of galamsey on the environment, including the Birim River, which was choked for over a year, leaving taps running dry in Kyebi.
NAIMOS did not specify what will happen to Bernard or the other detained suspects, and no date has been given for when a permanent security deployment at Osino might begin. The secretariat's spokesperson framed illegal mining as a matter requiring national attention beyond what any single task force can sustain on its own.
Key points
- A 15-year-old boy was among those arrested by NAIMOS at an illegal mining site in Osino, Ghana, as he sought to earn money for his education.
- The government is considering a proposal for continuous deployment of security personnel in affected areas to prevent the resurgence of illegal mining activities.
- The Osino raid is part of a wider crackdown on illegal mining in Ghana, which aims to mitigate the environmental damage caused by galamsey.
