NAIMOS launches major operation to clear illegal mining along Birim River in Kyebi

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has launched a major operation to clamp down on illegal mining activities along the Birim River and its surrounding catchment areas in Kyebi in the Eastern Region.

The exercise forms part of the Secretariat’s broader nationwide campaign to protect Ghana’s critical water bodies, disrupt illegal mining operations and support the restoration of rivers that have suffered severe environmental degradation.

A key objective of the Kyebi operation is to restore the Birim River to a condition that will allow the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to resume reliable water abstraction and treatment for communities in the area.

The river has been severely affected by pollution and riverbed degradation associated with illegal mining activities, disrupting the ability of the GWCL to effectively extract and treat water.

Since the commencement of the operation, the NAIMOS Taskforce has moved into identified illegal mining enclaves along sections of the Birim River.

The taskforce has already cleared several initial sites and disrupted ongoing illegal mining activities, while operations are continuing in other areas identified as vulnerable to illegal mining.

The exercise involves the eviction of illegal miners and the dismantling of mining equipment and other installations operating within or close to the river ecosystem.

NAIMOS said the operation will not end with the initial clearance of the sites.

The Secretariat plans to maintain active surveillance across the affected areas to prevent illegal miners from returning to the cleared locations and to create conditions for the gradual recovery of the river.

The crackdown is particularly significant because of the impact of illegal mining on the Birim River, which serves as an important source of water for communities in the Eastern Region.

NAIMOS said restoring the river is essential to supporting the return of dependable water supply services to affected communities.

The Secretariat reiterated that protecting Ghana’s water resources remains a national priority and warned that illegal mining within river corridors would not be tolerated.

It said the Kyebi operation would be sustained as part of wider efforts to protect the Birim River basin from further environmental destruction.

NAIMOS has called on residents and communities along the Birim River to cooperate with the taskforce and provide support for efforts to protect the water body.

Individuals engaged in illegal mining within the river corridor have also been urged to immediately cease their activities.

The Secretariat said it would continue working with security agencies, regulatory institutions, the Ghana Water Company Limited, traditional authorities and local communities to safeguard the Birim River.

The ultimate goal, it said, is to restore the river’s ecological health and ensure that it can once again serve as a dependable source of water for surrounding communities.

The Kyebi operation forms part of Ghana’s continuing efforts to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, which has become a major threat to the country’s rivers, forests and other natural resources.