Extensive Damage Caused to Rubber Plantation in Cape Three Points Forest Reserve- NAIMOS
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has reported extensive damage caused by illegal mining, also known as galamsey, to a rubber plantation in the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve in the Ahanta West Municipality.
A task force raided the plantation on February 11, 2026, where about 20 illegal miners were actively engaged in galamsey activities on arrival.
Aside from the destruction, it reported significant pollution of the Butre River within the enclave by their acts.
The task force managed to arrest only three of the suspects as the illegal miners fled upon detecting the approach of the task force.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Joseph Mensah, 22 years, Abdulia Dauda, 27 years and Kabre Daniel, 27 years.
“The three suspects have since been handed over to the Agona Nkwanta Police Station for further investigations and legal action,” it said in a statement issued on February 12, 2026.
Meanwhile, the team destroyed Chanfa machines, water pumping machines, several water hoses and various makeshift structures and personal belongings of the illegal miners.
Following these successful raid operations, the NAIMOS Director of Operations, Colonel Dominic BUAH, observed that the current offensive in the Western Region is generally yielding significant gains as a lot of the illegal mining areas previously raided have been abandoned by the galamseyers.
The Director highlighted that the Secretariat anticipates even better results in the foreseeable future, especially with regard to the clearing of some water bodies based on positive gains observed.
He therefore appealed for more resources like Pickup vehicles, lowbeds, and drones, among others, to augment their efforts.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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