The National Security Coordinating Secretariat (NSCS) has moved decisively in a widening illegal mining probe, revoking the appointment of one operative and launching disciplinary proceedings against two others implicated in illicit activities within the Oda River Forest Reserve.

The actions come on the heels of a high-impact, intelligence-led operation carried out on October 23, 2025, by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in partnership with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC).

The coordinated raid, described by security sources as a major blow to entrenched illegal mining networks—commonly known as “galamsey”—led to the arrest of 15 illegal miners.

Nine additional suspects, who falsely identified themselves as National Security operatives, were also detained.

Authorities recovered a cache of weapons, including a pistol, a pump-action shotgun, and multiple sets of handcuffs, underscoring the sophistication and potential danger of the operation.

In the immediate aftermath, the NSCS launched an internal audit to compare the identities of those arrested with official personnel records.

The review revealed that three of the names matched current or former National Security operatives.

Among them was Issah Yakubu, a temporary operative assigned to the Yapei Axle Weight Station, whose involvement was subsequently confirmed by colleagues.

The National Security Coordinator has since “mandated the immediate revocation of Issah Yakubu’s appointment and ordered his prosecution if found culpable.”

The two other operatives identified in the audit are now under intensive investigation. Should their links to the illegal mining network be substantiated, they too face immediate dismissal and possible criminal prosecution.

The NAIMOS taskforce also apprehended two individuals accused of attempting to bribe officers with GH₵120,000 in a bid to obstruct the operation. The foiled bribery underscores the high stakes and financial incentives driving illegal mining operations in Ghana’s protected reserves.

The crackdown has drawn praise from members of the public and civil society, who see the swift action as a clear signal of the government’s commitment to rooting out “galamsey,” even when it implicates individuals within the nation’s own security apparatus.

Some have hailed the operation as a turning point in the fight to protect Ghana’s vital forest reserves and natural resources from both external and internal threats. The Oda River Forest Reserve, spanning thousands of hectares, is a critical watershed and biodiversity hotspot, and its protection is seen as essential for both environmental sustainability and national security.

Ghana’s illegal mining crisis has escalated in recent years, with estimates from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources suggesting that “galamsey” activities cost the nation over $2 billion annually in lost revenue, environmental degradation, and restoration costs. The government’s ongoing anti-galamsey operations have led to hundreds of arrests and the seizure of heavy machinery, but sustained vigilance remains crucial.

The NSCS has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for corruption and criminality within its ranks, vowing to “pursue all those found to have betrayed the trust and integrity of the Service.” Disciplinary proceedings and criminal prosecutions are expected to proceed in the coming weeks as investigations conclude.

The successful bust and subsequent accountability measures reflect a renewed resolve to stamp out illegal mining and restore public confidence in national security institutions tasked with protecting Ghana’s natural heritage.