The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) successfully thwarted a bribery attempt by three individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining, following the confiscation of unlawful mining equipment in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the task force persisted in its anti-galamsey efforts, revisiting locations at Edwinase and Kokotro where earlier operations had expelled illegal miners.
At Kokotro, the team uncovered a galamsey site perilously situated within the town, endangering lives, property, and the environment.
During the operation, NAIMOS dismantled makeshift structures, industrial pumping machines, and various other illegal mining apparatus, in addition to seizing a Liugong excavator, two Liugong monitors, and an unregistered motorcycle.
While returning to their base, three men — identified as Emmanuel Koblah, Samuel Addai, and Kofi Frimpong — approached the Taskforce in a Black Tundra F150 (registration GR 4743–16), asserting ownership of the Kokotro site and attempting to bribe the officers with GHC 119,825.00 to recover the confiscated items.
The Taskforce promptly declined the bribe and apprehended the three individuals, subsequently transferring them to the Bekwai Police Station for further investigation and prosecution. The attempted bribe, along with the excavator monitors and vehicle, has been secured at NAIMOS headquarters.
NAIMOS has issued a warning to all illegal miners and their affiliates that any attempts to bribe officials will result in immediate arrest and prosecution.
The Secretariat has also called upon local authorities and security agencies to enhance surveillance of previously raided sites to deter the resurgence of illegal mining activities.
