Just days after a sweeping security operation seized nine excavators near the Obuasi Airport, illegal miners have brazenly resumed operations, dismantling and repairing seized equipment to continue their destructive activities. The development has triggered fresh alarm within the National Security Secretariat, which warns that the rampant environmental degradation now poses a direct threat to the airport’s infrastructure and flight safety.
An inspection team from the Ashanti Regional Security Secretariat returned to the site on Monday morning, only to discover that the landscape—already scarred by deep, water-filled trenches—was once again active. Heavy earth-moving equipment was observed digging into the earth, with at least three excavators fully operational, defying the military-led clampdown that took place on Wednesday, July 22.
Defiant Repairs and a Cat-and-Mouse Game
Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullah Nje, expressed deep frustration during the on-site assessment, revealing that the operators had outmaneuvered security forces. During the initial raid, the joint task force—comprising the National Security Secretariat and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS)—had not only seized nine excavators but also forcibly removed critical engine parts from three machines to render them inoperable.
“Last week, National Security and NAIMOS came to conduct an operation here, where we picked up about nine excavators and removed parts from about three of them that were on site,” Nje told reporters. “But today, on our way here, we saw three of the machines still working.”
Further inspection confirmed the excavators were among those disabled. Nje added: “They found ways to get other parts, fixed the machines, and brought them back to work. That is what is happening. This defiance shows the depth of resources these illegal operators are willing to deploy to evade the law.”
Environmental Devastation and Airport Safety Concerns
The scale of destruction is alarming. The inspection revealed a moonscape of abandoned pits, some plunging over 30 meters deep, sitting perilously close to the airport’s perimeter fence. Environmental experts note that the open-cast mining has stripped topsoil, destabilized the ground, and created stagnant water bodies—a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
More critically, the dust plumes generated by the heavy machinery and the collapse of loose earth near the runway could pose serious risks to aircraft taking off and landing. The Obuasi Airport, a vital economic lifeline for the mining town and surrounding communities, handles chartered flights for mining executives and emergency evacuations. Security sources confirm that the proximity of the illegal pits has already forced aviation authorities to issue cautionary notices to pilots.
The Broader Anti-Galamsey Struggle
The incident underscores the persistent struggle against illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, which has ravaged Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves for years. While Operation Halt and other military interventions have made strides, the ability of miners to source spare parts and repair seized equipment highlights a gap in enforcement strategies. Local residents, speaking anonymously, noted that the site near the airport has been a hotbed for illicit mining for over six months, with operators working under the cover of darkness and using informants to evade patrols.
Authorities Vow to Retaliate
Nje has vowed that the Secretariat will not relent. He confirmed that a dedicated task force is being dispatched to the area to retrieve the newly sourced replacement parts, and additional measures—including the deployment of permanent surveillance drones and the arrest of identified financiers—are being considered.
“We cannot allow a few individuals to jeopardize the safety of our aviation infrastructure and poison our environment,” Nje stated. “This is not just a law enforcement issue; it is a matter of national security. We will ensure that these machines are completely immobilized this time, and we will pursue the sponsors behind this reckless operation.”
As of press time, security personnel have been redeployed to the perimeter of the Obuasi Airport to prevent further encroachment. However, the incident serves as a stark reminder that without sustained economic alternatives and heavy penalties for financers, the war on illegal mining remains an uphill battle.
