Fleet of heavy machinery seized from galamsey site in Bole

The National Democratic Congress Government has transported a fleet of heavy machinery and equipment seized from a galamsey site in Bole — the hometown of President John Dramani Mahama — to the capital, Accra.

This follows exposure of the illegal mining activities ongoing in the President’s hometown.

The Minority in Parliament has raised concern about the free flow of galamsey activities in the Bole area where the president comes from.

The operation, spearheaded by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Secretariat (NAIMOS), is part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining, also known as galamsey, which continues to devastate water bodies and forest reserves across the country.

The latest operation, carried out on July 25, 2025, followed the arrest of eleven Chinese nationals at an illegal mining site within the Bole/Bamboi enclave the previous day.

The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who announced it on his Facebook page, said the NAIMOS Task Force seized a large cache of mining equipment, including:

Vehicles:

Four Shacman tipper trucks with registration numbers GT 7048-25, GT 7035-25, GT 7265-25, and GT 7243-25

One bulldozer (GT 5321-25)

One low-bed truck (GT 1128-21)

One Forland small truck

Other items:

10 drums of engine oil

28 Richlion tires

A number of motorbikes

He said the confiscated assets were immediately transported by hired drivers to the NAIMOS headquarters in Accra for secure holding and further administrative action.

He lamented that the operation is part of a broader national strategy to identify, dismantle, and prosecute illegal mining operations, irrespective of their geographical or political sensitivities.

The choice of location — Bole, a politically significant town due to its association with the president — has raised eyebrows and stirred public debate, with some interpreting the move as both symbolic and strategic.

Government officials, however, insist the task force’s work is guided solely by environmental and legal considerations.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, defended the operation in a statement, reaffirming the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining across all regions.

“The NAIMOS Task Force will continue to undertake swoops in all illegal mining zones. No area is off-limits in our quest to protect Ghana’s natural heritage,” he said.

NAIMOS, has ramped up its operations in recent months under a renewed directive from President John Mahama, who has vowed to take a firm stance on illegal mining despite previous criticisms during his first tenure.

The government’s renewed anti-galamsey drive includes not only raids and arrests but also surveillance, community engagement, and collaboration with local and international environmental bodies.