Ghana Minute.
Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 5 May 2026
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Organization

National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat

Government secretariat conducting enforcement operations against illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana, arresting suspects and dismantling equipment across multiple regions.

NAIMOS has conducted multiple enforcement operations across Ghana's mining regions, arresting dozens of illegal miners and dismantling equipment in sites spanning Ashanti, Western, and other districts. In one incident, a taskforce came under armed fire from illegal miners in a rubber plantation, but a follow-up operation arrested 114 individuals; separately, small-scale miners have protested that unauthorised persons are impersonating NAIMOS officials to extort money at mining sites.

2026-04-282026-05-05
Society

Church Elder arrested as NAIMOS targets galamsey operation

The News

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat arrested a Church of Pentecost Elder, David Bobie Peter, who was working as a foreman at an illegal mining site in Akyem Morso, Asante Akim District. During the operation along the Kume River, the task force dismantled eight Chanfang machines, four wooden gold-washing platforms, and seized twelve water pumping machines, though most of the illegal miners fled when security personnel arrived.

Why it matters

NAIMOS arrests Church of Pentecost Elder at illegal mining site in Asante Akim, dismantling equipment and showing continued enforcement against galamsey operations.

19 hours ago · Daily Guide →

Yesterday

  1. Church Elder arrested as NAIMOS targets galamsey operation

    The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat arrested a Church of Pentecost Elder, David Bobie Peter, who was working as a foreman at an illegal mining site in Akyem Morso, Asante Akim District. During the operation along the Kume River, the task force dismantled eight Chanfang machines, four wooden gold-washing platforms, and seized twelve water pumping machines, though most of the illegal miners fled when security personnel arrived.

    19 hours ago · Daily Guide →

  2. NAIMOS taskforce ambushed by illegal miners in Western Region

    Illegal miners operating in a Ghana Rubber Estates plantation opened fire on a NAIMOS taskforce during an anti-galamsey operation in Adiewoso, Western Region, damaging a vehicle but causing no casualties. A follow-up operation arrested 114 individuals, of whom 49 were identified as suspected illegal miners, including eight GREL workers, twelve senior high school students, and three foreign nationals.

    19 hours ago · Daily Guide →

  3. Pentecost elder arrested in NAIMOS anti-illegal mining operation

    The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) arrested Elder David Peter Bobie of the Church of Pentecost during unannounced operations at mining sites along the Kume River in Asante Akyem South district; Bobie, who claims to be a foreman at an illegal small-scale mining site at Morso, led the task force to the site where the environment had been massively degraded. During the operation, NAIMOS dismantled eight Chanfang machines, four wooden gold washing platforms, and seized 12 water pumping machines from the site.

    22 hours ago · The Chronicle →

Sunday 3 May

  1. NAIMOS arrests 7 in galamsey operation across two Ashanti communities

    The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat dismantled an organised multinational galamsey syndicate operating in Ntabanu and Nyameadom in Mankraso, Ahafo Ano South West District, resulting in the arrest of three Chinese nationals and four Ghanaian operators, alongside seizure of four motor vehicles, one excavator, and a tricycle.

    3 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. NAIMOS and Blue Water Guards arrest eight illegal miners in Amansie West

    The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and Blue Water Guards arrested eight suspected illegal miners and seized four excavators and two motorbikes during a night operation at Mpatasie and Odaho in the Amansie West District, Ashanti Region.

    3 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 2 May

  1. 49 illegal miners arrested after armed attack on NAIMOS team

    A NAIMOS taskforce team came under gunfire from suspected illegal miners operating in a rubber plantation in the Western Region's Nzema East on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Following an intelligence-led operation, 49 suspected illegal miners were arrested on Thursday in Adiewoso and surrounding communities, and operatives recovered a pump-action firearm and more than GH¢226,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from illegal mining.

    2 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

Thursday 30 April

  1. Pentecost church elder arrested for illegal mining in Asante Akyem

    The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat arrested David Bobie Peter, identified as an elder of The Church of Pentecost at Konongo, during a targeted operation at an illegal mining site along the Kume River near Juaso. The operation also resulted in the destruction of eight Chanfang machines, four wooden gold-washing platforms, seizure of twelve water-pumping machines, and discovery of a hidden excavator on a cocoa farm.

    30 April 2026 · The Chronicle →

  2. Church elder arrested as galamsey foreman in Ashanti

    NAIMOS has apprehended Elder David Bobie Peter, identified as a foreman at an illegal mining site at Akyem Morso in Asante Akim South District, during a targeted enforcement operation along the Kume River. The task force dismantled eight Chanfang machines, four wooden gold-washing platforms, and seized twelve water pumping machines, though most miners escaped into the bush.

    30 April 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Manso Kaniago miners protest extortion by fake security operatives

    Small-scale miners at Manso Kaniago in Amansie South District have accused unauthorised security personnel of impersonating National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) officials to extort money at mining sites. The miners staged a protest and warned authorities that failure to intervene could lead to violent confrontations.

    30 April 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 29 April

  1. Small-scale miners protest extortion by fake security operatives

    Small-scale miners at Manso Kaniago in the Amansie South District have staged a protest over alleged persistent extortion by individuals posing as security operatives and falsely claiming to represent the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat. The miners called on authorities to act quickly, warning that failure to address the issue could trigger violent confrontations.

    29 April 2026 · Joy Online →

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