The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has arrested 12 suspected illegal miners at Osino in the Eastern Region, just days after security officials cleared the same area of galamsey activities.

The task force also destroyed equipment found at the mining site as part of efforts to disrupt illegal mining activities in the area.

The latest operation has exposed the difficulty authorities face in keeping cleared galamsey sites free from illegal miners, with the suspects reportedly returning to the area shortly after an earlier operation.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Stephen Mensah on Thursday, September 25, 2026, NAIMOS Spokesperson, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, said the recurrence shows why a permanent security presence is needed at known illegal mining hotspots.

“It's not the first day of an operation like this. We got the indication they were here four days ago, and they returned,” he said.

According to him, the development reinforces the government’s decision to pursue permanent deployments in areas affected by illegal mining.

“This basically affirms why the permanent deployment forms part of the government's core strategies,” he said.

Schandorf said the task force had already flushed out illegal miners from the site days earlier, but the miners returned with their equipment.

“You saw when we arrived how all of them have put together their equipment, and then they are back at the very same place they were flushed out,” he said.

He said the situation further supports calls for permanent security deployments.

“It gives credence to the Minister's proposition that a permanent deployment is the way to go,” he said.

Among those arrested was a 15-year-old boy identified only as Bernard.

Bernard, who is from Navrongo, reportedly told JoyNews that he was brought to the site to work and raise money to support his education.

He said he arrived at the site and started work on the morning of September 25, 2026.

Schandorf also called for stronger action at the local level, arguing that police stations in communities affected by galamsey should be able to respond quickly.

“It shouldn't even take NAIMOS to come all the way from the NAIMOS headquarters for some of these operations to be conducted,” he said.

He praised the Police, National Security and other state agencies for supporting the operations but said communities must also play a role.

“There are those who are beneficiaries, and then there are those who are against the whole fight. And so it's a divided front,” he added.

He said local intelligence remains crucial to the fight, particularly as illegal mining has become deeply embedded in some communities.

“The illegal mining becomes an item of national concern,” he said.

NAIMOS says it will continue operations at illegal mining hotspots while the government works towards permanent deployment arrangements to prevent miners from returning to cleared sites.

NA/VPO

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