A special anti-illegal mining raid in the Bosome Freho District of the Ashanti Region has uncovered shocking destruction of cocoa and palm farmlands at Kakra.

The operation, carried out on Monday, December 8, by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Taskforce (NAIMOS), found large areas of fertile land completely damaged by galamsey activities.

What used to be thriving cocoa and palm plantations now lie empty and destroyed. Acres of green farmland have been turned into deep pits and polluted soil. The scale of the damage was huge, raising serious concerns about the future of agriculture in the area.

When the NAIMOS team got to the site, the suspected Chinese miners and their Ghanaian accomplices had already fled. They escaped moments before the officers arrived, avoiding immediate arrest. But the task force did not leave empty-handed. Officers seized an excavator believed to have been used for mining, pulled down the miners’ makeshift shelters, and recovered other equipment used in the illegal operations.

The situation at Kakra adds to the growing national worry over the spread of galamsey. Illegal mining continues to destroy farmlands, pollute water bodies, and damage forest reserves.

For many communities, the loss of rich agricultural land means a loss of their livelihood and a threat to food security. The chemicals used by these miners leave long-term scars on the land, making it almost impossible for farmers to grow crops again.

Government and security agencies have been trying to deal with the problem. Task forces like NAIMOS have been deployed, strict regulations have been introduced, and public campaigns continue to warn against the dangers of galamsey. But the strong desire for fast money keeps attracting people into these illegal activities.

Monday’s operation was carried out by NAIMOS in collaboration with COCOBOD. The team targeted an area well known for the destruction of cocoa farms by illegal miners.