The Operation Vanguard Team, a Military Police Joint Task Force (JTF) set up by the President of Ghana in 2017 to combat the operation of galamsey in the country, on Saturday, 17 November 2018, conducted patrols to Nyame Nnae-Kusiase and Nsabrekwa No. 4 in the Wassa Amenfi West Municipality. The patrol team found 4 immobilised excavators at mining sites and arrested one Chinese illegal miner. The suspect was handed over to the Asankragwa police station for custody pending handover to immigration authorities.
Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Operation Vanguard in Ashantti on Monday, 19 November, again conducted patrols to illegal mining sites at Takyikrom, Adukromba and Amponyase. The patrol team arrested two illegal miners, Bukari Hawa 22 years and Sampson Asiedu 40 years. Items seized included; a Toyota Hilux pick up, one motorcycle, one motor king, a generator set, 12 heavy duty batteries, 5 excavator control boards and one monitor . The suspects were handed over to the Obuasi police for further investigation.
Nana Akuffo-Addo launched Operation Vanguard group on 31 July 2017. The aim of the group is stopping the activities of galamseyers in the three most galamsey ravaged regions in the country. Three Forward Operating Bases (FOB) were established in those regions namely Ashanti, Eastern and Western Regions. Towns in the regions where the activities of galamseyers are high are Tarkwa in the Western, Obuasi in the Ashanti and Osino in the Eastern Regions. The JTF is made up of service men and women from the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service.