A/R: NAIMOS Task Force Arrests 8, Seizes Equipment in Amansie West Galamsey Raid
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat has reported the arrest of eight people and seizure of equipment during an intelligence-led raid at Oseikokrom in the Amansie West District by its task force.
The operation on Thursday, May 21, 2026, led to the arrest of one Chinese national, Huang WEIYE, 38, and seven Ghanaian workers at the galamsey site.
The task force said the suspects attempted to flee upon noticing its approach but were intercepted.
Officers seized two Toyota Hilux pickups with registration numbers GX 555-24 and CN 5168-26, and two excavators linked to the illegal mining activity.
One excavator was moved to the NAIMOS logistics holding area in Kumasi, while the second was immobilised on site after its monitor and control board was detached, explaining that the machine could not be moved due to an attached tracker that could not be deactivated.
A pump-action gun was also recovered, and several makeshift structures used as hideouts were set ablaze.
The Ghanaian suspects – Augustine MANU, 23; Kwame NTOADRO, 41; Moses ALOU, 30; Alex LENLEY, 32; Yaw OWUSU, 26; Shaibu WUNI, 26; and Patrick BAMPOA, 22 – were handed over to the Antoakrom Police Station for investigation and prosecution, while the Chinese national was sent to NAIMOS Headquarters for further investigation before being handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service.
NAIMOS Director of Operations, Colonel Dominic Buah, said the Secretariat will continue to intensify surgical raids in galamsey hotspots nationwide.
He stated that the operations are disrupting illegal mining networks that damage cocoa farms, forest reserves, road networks, and pollute water bodies.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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