The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), in a joint operation with the Blue Water Guards, has dealt a major blow to illegal mining activities along the Oda River corridor in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region. The special night operation led to the arrest of eight suspected illegal miners and the seizure of four excavators and two motorbikes on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
The operation followed credible intelligence reports indicating that illegal miners were actively operating along the roadside corridor and the banks of the Oda River at Mpatasie and Odaho. Acting swiftly on the information, the joint taskforce mobilised from the Manso Adubia operational base at about 10:30 pm and moved strategically to the identified locations under the cover of darkness to prevent suspects from escaping.
Upon reaching the scene, operatives found several individuals engaged in illegal mining activities dangerously close to the river and public road. The team carried out a coordinated raid and arrested eight suspects identified as Bismark Abilla, 23, from Bolgatanga; Michael Donkor, 36, from Tepa; Kuviele Apuo, 23, from Wa; Bernard Akeleyona, 31, from Bolgatanga; Joseph Donkor, 33, from Tepa; Vincent Gyimah, 35, from Odaho; Ebenezer Asare, 26, from Odaho; and Kwame Asaa, 38, from Navrongo. Seven of the suspects were residing in Odaho, while one was living at Anwia Nkwanta at the time of the operation.
A subsequent search of the mining enclave led to the recovery of four excavators used in the illegal operations. The first excavator, a Sany model, was found without its monitor and control board. The second, a Hyundai excavator, still had both its monitor and control board intact. The third, an XCMG model, was recovered with only its control board, while the fourth Hyundai excavator had neither its monitor nor control board attached. Authorities noted that the removal of these expensive electronic components has become a common tactic among illegal miners seeking to frustrate law enforcement efforts.
In addition to the excavators, two motorbikes belonging to the suspects were seized and transported to the Manso Adubia holding area for safekeeping. The eight suspects have since been handed over to the Antoa Krom Police Station for further investigations and possible prosecution, while the excavators have been conveyed to the NAIMOS equipment holding base in Kumasi.
NAIMOS says the successful operation demonstrates the growing effectiveness of coordinated deployments between the taskforce and the Blue Water Guards in combating illegal mining activities, particularly along river bodies heavily affected by galamsey operations. The Secretariat further assured the public that enforcement operations will continue both day and night until illegal mining activities along the Oda River and across the Amansie West District are completely dismantled.
