On Friday, the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), with support from the Artillery Brigade of the Ghana Army, carried out a large‑scale enforcement operation in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region. The raid targeted two identified sand‑winning sites at Agbozume Klikor and Ohawu, where active operations were disrupted to protect the environment and restore compliance within the sector.
During the operation, 30 persons were arrested and 35 tipper trucks were intercepted. A significant number of the trucks bore Togolese registration numbers, raising concerns about cross‑border movement of vehicles involved in sand‑winning activities in the area. The suspects were handed over to the Dzodze District Police Station for further investigation, while the trucks were moved to a secure holding location.
NAIMOS stated that the exercise sends a clear message that illegal sand winning will be treated with the same seriousness as other forms of unauthorised mineral extraction. Unregulated sand winning can degrade farmland, damage roads and surrounding landscapes, threaten communities, and undermine efforts to manage natural resources responsibly. The Secretariat warned that enforcement will not focus solely on those excavating sand; truck owners, transporters, and other actors who facilitate the movement of sand from unauthorised sites will also come under scrutiny if their activities support illegal operations.
The Secretariat will continue targeted operations in identified hotspots and maintain close collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, local authorities and other relevant institutions to prevent the resurgence of illegal sand‑winning activities. NAIMOS urges operators in the sector to source sand only from lawfully approved locations and conduct all activities in accordance with regulatory requirements. The message is clear: economic activity cannot be pursued at the expense of the environment and the law.
NAIMOS will persist in acting against illegal sand‑winning operations and the logistics that sustain them, while supporting lawful and responsible operators.
