On October 23, 2025, a coordinated operation led by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) successfully broke up a major illegal mining ring in the Oda River Forest Reserve.
Several miners were arrested, along with nine individuals impersonating National Security officers.
These impostors, dressed in khaki uniforms and claiming to follow orders from a “Major Jabari,” were found with weapons including a pistol, toy gun, pump-action shotgun, and handcuffs.
During the raid, some individuals attempted to bribe the task force with GH₵120,000 to release the detained miners.
The bribe was rejected, and the suspects were taken into custody. Authorities also uncovered a hidden settlement deep in the forest, complete with wooden structures and tents used as mining bases. These were destroyed to prevent future use.
The operation revealed extensive environmental damage, including deforestation and water pollution.
Colonel Dominic Buah, Director of Operations at NAIMOS, praised the collaboration between agencies and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s natural resources. He emphasized that illegal exploitation would not be tolerated and vowed continued efforts to eliminate such activities nationwide.
