Operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), based in the Western Region, on Thursday, May 14 conducted riverine operations at Amenfi West District.
The task Force teamed up with the Blue Water Guards to conduct the operations which aimed at clearing all galamsey activities or persons mining on the Tano river.
In the course of the day’s activities the task force patrolled several areas along the banks of the Tano River.
Some areas where the team had previously visited remained free of illegal mining activities.
However, the taskforce arrived at Oforikrom, where it encountered some miners using Changfen machines on floating platforms and polluting the River.
Several illegal miners who were at the site took to their heels upon seeing the task force approaching to avoid arrest.
Further thorough search of the area resulted in the arrest of 3 Chinese illegal miners who were actively overseeing mining activities on the site.
The three Chinese arrested are Deng Jun, who is 37 years, Deng Bi Hua, 50, and Deng Bi Qiang, who is 32 years.
All three Chinese suspects have since been sent to Naimos Secretariat and subsequently handed ver to the Ghana Immigration Service Enforcement Unit in Accra.
It was evident during inspection of the site that the activities of the arrested illegal miners and others had dangerously polluted the Tano River and devastated large tracts of farmlands in the area.
Indeed the active illegal mining has drastically reduced the depth of the River Tano.
Additional to arrest of the 3 Illegal Chinese miners, the task force also made the following seizures at the site: One (1) x Pump action. – Twelve (12) cartridges. – One Toyota Hilux Pickup with registration number GS-5288 -22.
In line with NAIMOS operational procedures and directives, the task force raised and destroyed a total of over twenty Changfen Machines mounted on a floating platform and several other pipelines and makeshift structures found at the site.
NAIMOS remains committed on its mandate to removing all illegal mining activities along all water ways.
The Secretariat continues to caution all illegal miners to opt for the responsible cooperative mining programme rolled by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources or risk loosing their equipment.