TANO RIVER, Ghana — October 19, 2026 — In a significant escalation of its campaign to protect the nation’s water bodies, the National Anti-Ilegal Mining Operation Secretariat (NAIMOS) has destroyed 92 “changfang” machines during a major enforcement action dubbed “Operation WATER SHIELD.”
The operation, conducted on the Tano River, targeted the illegal mining equipment—known locally as “changfang” machines—which are used to dredge riverbeds for gold, causing severe environmental degradation. The machines were in active operation at the time of the raid, according to a statement from NAIMOS.
The Tano River, a vital waterway that flows through the Ashanti and Bono East regions before emptying into the Atlantic, has been a hotspot for illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey. The influx of these machines has led to heightened turbidity, contamination with heavy metals like mercury, and the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, threatening the water supply for millions of Ghanaians.
“Operation WATER SHIELD is a direct response to the President’s directive to reclaim our rivers from the grip of illegal miners,” said a NAIMOS spokesperson. “The destruction of these 92 machines on the Tano River is a clear message: we will not stand by while our natural heritage is destroyed for short-term gain. This operation will be sustained until our rivers run clear again.”
The operation is part of a broader government crackdown, which has seen increased military and police deployments to mining regions. NAIMOS, which operates under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has been tasked with leading the charge, combining intelligence-led surveillance with rapid-response enforcement.
Local sources near the Tano River reported hearing the sound of heavy machinery and explosions as the task force moved in. The destroyed equipment is estimated to be worth millions of cedis, representing a significant financial blow to the illegal mining syndicates operating in the area.
While the destruction of equipment is a key tactic, critics argue that a more sustainable solution requires addressing the root causes, including poverty and unemployment in mining communities, as well as corruption within regulatory bodies that allows such operations to flourish.
The government has pledged to continue “Operation WATER SHIELD” and similar exercises across all major rivers in the country. The success of these operations will be measured not just in the number of machines destroyed, but in the eventual restoration of water quality and the return of aquatic life to Ghana’s rivers.
The Tano River, once a pristine source of life, is now a test case for the nation’s resolve to balance economic development with environmental protection. As the sun sets on another day of operations, the question remains: will the destruction of 92 machines be a turning point, or merely a footnote in a long and ongoing battle for Ghana’s environment?
