The usually quiet community of Dawusaso in the Amansie South District was jolted into action. The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), through its Manso Adubia task force, launched a decisive operation targeting illegal mining activities devastating the Offin River.
The mission began shortly before noon, as credible intelligence reached the NAIMOS team about organized illegal mining in the area. With urgency and precision, the task force mobilized from their base in Manso Adubia, setting their sights on the banks of the Offin River where miners had reportedly diverted sections of the river into an artificial dam, a tactic threatening both the environment and the communities downstream.
As the team arrived, they encountered a flurry of activity. Several individuals, including women, were found working frantically at the river, operating changfan machines that churned up the water and the riverbed. The sudden appearance of the task force sent the miners scattering into the surrounding bush, leaving their equipment behind.
Despite most suspects fleeing, the task force apprehended one individual: Xiao Weixin, a 41-year-old Chinese national who had made Dawusaso his home. On him, the operatives found an Apsonic tricycle, two Gota radio sets, and a Huawei mobile phone, all secured as evidence.
The destruction left behind by the illegal miners was evident. The Offin River, once a lifeline for the community, had been deliberately diverted, its flow manipulated to feed the miners’ artificial dam. This, authorities noted, posed a serious threat to the river’s ecological balance and the well-being of those who depend on its waters.
Determined to put an end to the destruction, the task force set ablaze two changfan machines mounted directly on the river, rendering them inoperable. They also discovered three excavators, two Caterpillar and one Sany, abandoned at the site. The operators, in a bid to thwart seizure, had removed the machines’ monitors and keys, while the chassis numbers were so corroded they were unreadable.
The story did not end there. On their way to the main site, the NAIMOS team intercepted another group of illegal miners near the Dawusaso road. Once again, the suspects fled into the bush, but the operatives managed to retrieve a drum of diesel left behind in the chaos.
With Xiao Weixin in custody, the task force transported him to the NAIMOS Secretariat in Accra for further investigation. He will be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for the next phase of action.
The Dawusaso operation is a stark reminder of NAIMO’s relentless commitment to protecting the Offin River. The Secretariat has assured the public that it will not relent in its efforts to restore the river’s integrity, vowing to intensify actions against destructive mining activities, particularly those that alter the natural course of the river.
Through coordinated enforcement and swift action, NAIMOS continues its fight to preserve Ghana’s precious water bodies for generations to come.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com