Illegal miners have expanded their operations to the vicinity of the Obuasi Airstrip, leaving the area scarred by deep pits and polluted water bodies despite recent security operations aimed at driving them away.

Heavy machinery was operating around the airstrip this week as miners continued excavating for gold, with residents reporting that the illegal activity has intensified in recent months.

The latest development comes days after the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) seized and demobilised nine excavators during an operation in the area.

The crackdown, however, appears to have had only a temporary impact, with miners quickly returning to resume their activities.

Large stretches of vegetation have been cleared, while excavations have left behind open pits and silted water bodies, raising concerns over environmental degradation and public safety.

Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive and Chairperson of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), Faustilove Appiah Kannin, said the persistence of illegal mining demonstrates the need for a stronger and more permanent security presence.

“You sack them today, tomorrow they are back. We are appealing to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to establish a military base here. It will help,” she told 3news.com.

Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer, Alhaji Nje Abdalla Omar, described the situation as worrying but insisted that the Regional Security Council remains committed to combating illegal mining.

The encroachment around the airstrip adds to growing concerns over the resurgence of illegal mining in parts of the Ashanti Region, where authorities have struggled to sustain gains made through periodic enforcement operations.

Officials say continued mining around critical infrastructure not only threatens the environment but also poses potential safety and security risks, reinforcing calls for sustained enforcement and long-term measures to protect the area.