Ghana's Galamsey War: 2025 Sees Shocking Surge in Attacks on Taskforces and Journalists

On November 1, 2025, a team from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations (NAIMOS) was conducting a reconnaissance mission in a remote forest reserve at Hwidiem , Ahafo Region where they intercepted an excavator actively destroying farmland. After making several arrests, the team found their exit route blocked by an angry mob that had been mobilized from a nearby community. The crowd demanded the immediate release of the suspects, vandalized the taskforce's vehicle, and physically attacked the personnel, forcing them to retreat.

This violent confrontation is not an isolated incident but the latest flashpoint in an escalating war. Analysis, based on data compiled from the peacebuilding forum Kujenga Amani and various Ghanaian news outlets, reveals a dramatic surge in violence. Of the 16 documented attacks on anti-galamsey personnel and journalists since 2017, a staggering 10 have occurred in 2025 alone.

This article provides a detailed chronological record of these 16 attacks, drawing on a timeline compiled by Kujenga Amani and from reports by Ghanaian news outlets, to document the rising tide of violent resistance.

Timeline of Documented Attacks (2017-2025)

Date	Location (District / Region)	Target	Incident Summary
29 May 2017	Denkyira-Obuasi, Central Region	Soldier (Capt. Mahama)	Lynched by a mob while on anti-galamsey duty, sparking national outrage.
13 Dec 2018	Manso Aponapon, Ashanti Region	Taskforce	Officers were pelted with stones while arresting suspected illegal miners.
30 Sep 2022	Asam Tamfoe, Ashanti Region	Taskforce	A gunfight erupted between galamseyers and the taskforce, leading to arrests.
13 Aug 2023	Cape Three Points area, Western Region	Forestry Officer (RRU)	Officer was shot by illegal miners during a forest patrol and hospitalized.
20 Oct 2024	Near Manso Nkran, Ashanti Region	JoyNews Crew	Crew was attacked, briefly kidnapped, and had equipment (including a drone) seized.
20 Dec 2024	Offin Shelterbelt FR, Ashanti Region	Journalist (Ohemeng Tawiah)	Attacked with stones and machetes while accompanying police; sustained severe injuries.
19 Jan 2025	AngloGold Ashanti Mine, Obuasi Ashanti Region	Soldiers vs. Illegal Miners	A clash resulted in 7–9 illegal miners killed after an alleged armed confrontation.
26 Feb 2025	Breman-Adomanya Forest, Western Region	Journalists (Citi FM, etc.)	Journalists reporting on galamsey were assaulted, equipment seized, and forced to delete footage.
23 Mar 2025	Offin Shelterbelt FR, Ashanti Region	Forestry RRT Officer	An officer was ambushed, slashed with a machete, and hospitalized.
5 Jun 2025	Tarkwa, Western Region	Forestry Commission Office	Illegal miners attacked the district office, cutting tires and threatening staff.
5 Jun 2025	Bui Sobinso, Bono/Savannah Regions	Police, Administrator & Journalists	Armed men attacked the team's cars with machetes and guns to force the release of Chinese nationals.
28 Jun 2025	Jimira FR (Bentiko–Pakyi), Ashanti Region	Forestry RRT	A team was ambushed by approximately 20 armed miners; one officer narrowly escaped.
29 Jul 2025	Manso Mpatasie, Amansie South, Ashanti Region	Police Team	Clashes ensued with local youth who gathered around seized excavators; at least 1 injured.
4 Aug 2025	Jimira Forest Reserve, Ashanti Region	Joint Police–Forestry RRT	Armed men confronted the enforcement team mid-operation; one assailant was shot.
13 Aug 2025	Amansie West, Ashanti Region	IGP’s Special Task Force	A mob, allegedly led by a local assemblymember, attacked the team with stones and sticks.
1 Nov 2025	Hwidiem , Ahafo Region	NAIMOS Team	Mob attacked personnel, vandalized a vehicle, and demanded the release of arrested miners.

Table Source Up until 13 Aug 2025: https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2025/09/11/resource-based-resistance-and-galamseys-grip-on-ghanas-security-future/

Conclusion: A New, More Dangerous Front

The data is undeniable. The fight against galamsey has evolved from an environmental and legal challenge into a violent, low-intensity conflict. The statistics for 2025 reveal a sharp, terrifying escalation in both the frequency and the brazenness of these attacks.

What was once sporadic resistance has become organized, armed, and deadly. Mobs are now willing to attack police and military taskforces to free suspects and retrieve equipment. Journalists, who are essential for exposing the truth, are being systematically targeted, beaten, and kidnapped to silence them.

As Ghana continues to grapple with the devastating environmental toll of illegal mining, it must now also confront the critical and growing danger faced by the security officers and journalists on the front lines of this war.