NAIMOS intensifies crackdown on illegal sand winning in Ketu North

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), with support from the Artillery Brigade of the Ghana Army, has carried out a major enforcement operation against suspected illegal sand-winning activities in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region.

The operation targeted two identified sites at Agbozume Klikor and Ohawu, where active sand-winning operations were disrupted as part of efforts to protect the environment and restore compliance within the sand extraction sector.

During the operation, 30 persons were arrested, and 35 tipper trucks were intercepted. A significant number of the trucks were reported to bear Togolese registration numbers, raising further concerns about the movement of vehicles involved in sand-winning activities within the area.

The arrested suspects were handed over to the Dzodze District Police Station for further investigation, while the intercepted trucks were moved to a secure holding location.

For NAIMOS, 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.

NAIMOS has therefore warned that enforcement will not focus solely on those found 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 are found to 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 is urging operators in the sector to ensure that sand is sourced only from lawfully approved locations and that all activities are conducted in accordance with the relevant regulatory requirements.

The message is clear: economic activity cannot be pursued at the expense of the environment and the law. NAIMOS will continue to act against illegal sand-winning operations and the logistics that sustain them, while supporting lawful and responsible operators.