Operation Water Shield: NAIMOS begins fresh crackdown on galamsey

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has launched Operation WATER SHIELD, a sustained national campaign aimed at protecting major rivers and critical water resources from illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.

In a statement dated September 10, 2026, NAIMOS said the operation marked a shift from isolated raids to a sustained, intelligence-led campaign to protect priority river systems from their source areas through downstream communities and water-treatment facilities.

NAIMOS said the operation would focus on some of the country’s most threatened river systems, including the Birim, Ankobra, Tano, Bia, Pra and Offin Rivers, as well as affected sections of the Black and White Volta systems.

Strategic source areas and upper catchments whose degradation affects downstream water quality will also receive priority attention.

The campaign will target river source areas, prevent illegal miners from accessing riverbanks and waterways, dismantle mining logistics networks and disrupt the financial and criminal structures that sustain illegal mining.

“Operation WATER SHIELD will focus on some of the country's most threatened river systems, including the Birim, Ankobra, Tano, Bia, Pra and Offin Rivers, as well as affected sections of the Black and White Volta systems. Strategic source areas and upper catchments whose degradation affects downstream water quality will also receive priority attention,” the statement said.

The operation will also support the restoration of degraded water bodies and establish sustained monitoring systems to prevent illegal miners from returning to cleared areas.

NAIMOS said its ultimate objective was to substantially degrade and contain illegal mining within protected watersheds, restrict the movement of heavy equipment into critical river systems, disrupt financing and supply networks, improve water quality and restore effective control over affected river basins.

“Enforcement under Operation WATER SHIELD will be firm, sustained and uncompromising, within the law,” it said.

The Secretariat warned that illegal miners operating on water bodies and riverbanks should expect their activities to be disrupted and their equipment seized, immobilised or otherwise dealt with in accordance with applicable laws and established procedures.

Excavators, chanfang machines, water pumps, dredging equipment and other machinery used to destroy water bodies will remain key targets of the operation.

The campaign will also extend beyond miners operating along riverbanks to the networks that facilitate their activities.

NAIMOS said facilitators, unauthorised fabricators of chanfang machines, and individuals or companies that rent or supply excavators, pumps and other machinery for illegal mining would face increased scrutiny and enforcement action.

“Cleared river corridors will also be continuously monitored to prevent reoccupation and support environmental recovery, particularly in river basins that supply communities, agriculture and water-treatment systems,” it noted.

NAIMOS called on traditional authorities, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, equipment owners, communities and the general public to support the implementation of Operation WATER SHIELD.

JKB/MA