Armed personnel from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operational Support (NAIMOS) have raided illegal mining (galamsey) sites at Abosso and Abompieso in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region, a move that has received strong endorsement from traditional leaders in the area.

Illegal miners have, for some time, taken over farmlands, forests, and water bodies within the Prestea Huni Valley enclave, severely affecting development and farming activities.

The operation, spearheaded by the leader of NAIMOS, Col. Dominic Buah, under the directive of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, led to the burning and seizure of equipment used in illegal mining at the two locations.

The crackdown follows a formal request by traditional authorities in the municipality for NAIMOS to intervene and save the area from the grip of illegal miners.

The chiefs have since issued a statement endorsing the ongoing raids and commending NAIMOS and the National Security Secretariat for responding to their call for help.

In a statement signed by the Chief of Abosso, Nana Kwesi Appiah, the chiefs warned politicians alleged to be backing illegal mining activities to stay away from their lands.

“We wish to use this medium to warn all politicians within and outside the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality who have taken it upon themselves to encourage any recalcitrant individuals or groups to engage in illegal mining on our land to refrain from doing so,” the statement said.

They further warned: “Nananom will resist such advancement through the appropriate, legal, and lawful avenues.”

The chiefs reaffirmed their support for the clampdown, stressing:

“Nananom would like to reiterate that the ongoing raids on illegal mining sites is a collective effort and has our backing.”