NAIMOS: River Tano Changfan Machines Significantly Reduced

• Ghana's National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) reported a significant reduction in changfan machines on the River Tano.
• This progress is attributed to sustained enforcement efforts under Operation Water Shield, an intelligence-led campaign launched in September 2026.
• A specific operation on October 19 resulted in the destruction of 92 changfan machines and the arrest of three suspected illegal miners in the Aowin Municipality.
• NAIMOS plans to continue surveillance and target networks and equipment suppliers facilitating illegal mining.
• Despite the reduction in equipment, the River Tano is not yet fully restored, requiring further measures and sustained efforts to reverse environmental damage.

The destruction of hundreds of changfans on the Tano River doesn’t immediately make it pure, but it’s a crucial starting point.

Ghana's National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has announced a substantial decrease in the number of changfan machines operating on the River Tano. This reduction is attributed to the sustained enforcement activities carried out under Operation Water Shield, a dedicated campaign against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.

NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf shared this development in a Facebook post on Friday, October 30, 2026. Earlier that day, a group of 15 journalists joined NAIMOS officials on a visit to the river, providing them an opportunity to independently assess the impact and progress of the anti-galamsey efforts in the area. The successful operations were specifically credited to the leadership of Colonel K. S. Appiah, NAIMOS's Director of Operations.

Operation Water Shield, an intelligence-led enforcement campaign, was launched by NAIMOS in September 2026. Its core objective is to safeguard Ghana's major rivers, watersheds, and other critical water resources from the pervasive threat of illegal mining. The campaign's strategy moves beyond isolated raids, focusing instead on systematically targeting illegal mining activities across entire river systems.

This comprehensive approach involves dismantling the machinery used in these illicit operations and implementing measures to prevent miners from returning to areas that have been cleared by security teams. The priority water bodies designated for protection under Operation Water Shield include the Birim, Ankobra, Tano, Bia, Pra, and Offin rivers, as well as affected stretches of the Black and White Volta systems.

Enforcement actions under Operation Water Shield have already yielded concrete results along the River Tano. For instance, on October 19, NAIMOS conducted an operation at Asemkrom, located in the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region. During this intervention, authorities successfully destroyed 92 changfan machines and apprehended three individuals suspected of illegal mining.

The operation specifically targeted mining platforms and equipment found directly on the river, particularly in proximity to the Jema-Asekrom Forest Reserve. NAIMOS's broader strategy encompasses continuous patrols and surveillance to deter illegal miners from reoccupying cleared areas. Furthermore, the secretariat aims to extend its actions to target the networks and equipment suppliers that facilitate illegal mining activities, thereby disrupting the entire illicit supply chain.

The recent assessment by NAIMOS comes amid persistent environmental concerns stemming from galamsey, which has led to widespread pollution of rivers and degradation of surrounding land. While the reduction in changfans represents an important initial step, Paa Kwesi Schandorf cautioned that it does not signify the immediate restoration of the River Tano to its pristine condition.

Schandorf emphasized that "The destruction of hundreds of changfans on the Tano River doesn’t immediately make it pure, but it’s a crucial starting point." Further measures are anticipated under the leadership of Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, to protect and restore affected water bodies. NAIMOS remains committed to ongoing surveillance and enforcement, aligning with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for returning Ghana's water bodies to their natural state, though the challenge of sustaining these gains and achieving measurable improvements remains significant.

Companies operating in Ghana's mining sector or supplying equipment to it should note the intensified enforcement by NAIMOS under Operation Water Shield, which increases the legal and reputational risk associated with any involvement in illegal mining activities, including the supply chain for 'changfans' or other illicit equipment. Compliance officers must ensure due diligence to avoid direct or indirect support of such operations, as enforcement targets extend to networks and suppliers.

Source: Original reporting via Myjoyonline.com