The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested four persons and impounded three trucks during an enforcement operation targeting suspected illegal sand-winning activities at three locations in the Greater Accra Region.
The operation, conducted on Thursday, November 5, 2026, covered Asutsuare in the Shai-Osudoku District, Volivo and parts of the Afienya enclave as part of efforts to clamp down on unauthorised sand extraction and prevent further environmental degradation.
The exercise was led by the Director of Operations of NAIMOS, Colonel K. S. Appiah, who supervised the enforcement activities across the affected locations.
In an operational update issued on Friday, November 6, 2026, the Secretariat said four individuals suspected of involvement in illegal sand-winning activities were arrested during the exercise.
Three trucks believed to have been used in the activities were also impounded and subsequently handed over to the police.
NAIMOS further disclosed that some foreign nationals at Asutsuare were questioned as part of the operation. However, the Secretariat did not provide further details about their identities or the outcome of the questioning.
Beyond the arrests and seizures, the enforcement team engaged residents in some of the affected communities, particularly within the Afienya enclave, to understand the impact of illegal sand-winning activities on their livelihoods and the surrounding environment.
During the engagements, some residents reportedly expressed concern about the growing menace, describing illegal sand extraction as a major threat to their communities.
They called for sustained interventions to prevent further destruction of their lands and protect the environment from the consequences of unauthorised extraction activities.
In response, NAIMOS assured residents of its commitment to maintaining enforcement operations in the affected areas.
The Secretariat also encouraged community members to cooperate with security personnel and provide credible information that could assist in identifying individuals and groups involved in illegal sand-winning activities.
The community engagement forms part of NAIMOS’ broader strategy of combining enforcement measures with public participation and intelligence gathering to address environmental offences.
The Secretariat also held discussions with the District Police Commander for Afienya, Chief Superintendent Stanley Dzakpasu, following recent reports of an alleged confrontation between military and police personnel during an earlier enforcement operation.
According to NAIMOS, the police commander disputed suggestions that a confrontation had occurred between personnel of the two security agencies.
Chief Superintendent Dzakpasu, instead, reportedly commended the professionalism demonstrated by the military officers who participated in the earlier operations.
He further assured the Secretariat of his outfit’s continued cooperation with NAIMOS in carrying out its mandate.
The engagement is expected to reinforce collaboration between the police and military personnel involved in enforcement activities, particularly in areas where illegal sand-winning and other unauthorised extraction activities have become a concern.
NAIMOS has reiterated its commitment to intensifying operations against illegal sand-winning and other forms of unauthorised mineral extraction across the country.
The Secretariat said its enforcement strategy would continue to combine operational interventions with stakeholder engagement and collaboration with affected communities to protect Ghana’s land and natural resources.
The operations are being undertaken under the direction of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, as part of the government’s broader efforts to address illegal extraction activities and their associated environmental consequences.
Illegal sand-winning, when carried out without proper authorisation and environmental safeguards, can contribute to land degradation, erosion, destruction of natural habitats and damage to infrastructure.
The latest operation in Asutsuare, Volivo and the Afienya enclave underscores NAIMOS’ continued efforts to disrupt suspected illegal extraction activities and strengthen enforcement in communities considered vulnerable to environmental degradation.
The Secretariat has indicated that sustained enforcement and cooperation from residents and other stakeholders will remain central to its efforts to protect the country’s natural resources.
By 1960news.com
