The Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) narrowly escaped an attack by a mob allegedly led by th
The Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) narrowly escaped an attack by a mob allegedly led by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, during an official anti-galamsey operation in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
The incident, which occurred near Bronikrom along the Goaso-Hwidiem highway, has raised serious concerns about political interference and obstruction in the national fight against illegal mining.
According to a detailed account from NAIMOS, the Director of Operations, Colonel Buah, was on a reconnaissance mission with 10 armed military personnel to identify a suitable location for the establishment of a permanent anti-illegal mining field base.
The mission was part of the Secretariat’s broader strategy to sustain and coordinate anti-galamsey operations across the country.
While driving along the Goaso-Hwidiem road, the team spotted an excavator engaged in illegal mining activity dangerously close to the highway near Bronikrom.
Acting swiftly, they diverted to the site, apprehended several individuals actively mining, and ordered them to refill the excavated pits to prevent further environmental damage.
The Director then instructed one of the arrested suspects to call the site owner.
A man claiming to be a Defence Intelligence (DI) representative in the Ahafo Region arrived first, followed by another individual named Alex, who appeared in a Toyota RAV4 and arrogantly claimed ownership of the mining site.
Shortly afterward, another man arrived in a Range Rover and was also detained. As part of the operation, the task force set ablaze the makeshift structures being used by the illegal miners as offices and shelters.
A search of the suspects’ vehicles uncovered a startling cache: a Smith & Wesson pistol with two magazines and 21 rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition, 12 assorted mobile phones, GH₵11,000 in cash, a black side bag, a power bank, and a Lexus ignition key.
The NAIMOS team prepared to transport the suspects and seized items to the Hwidiem Police Station for processing when events took a dramatic turn.
Reports indicate that Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, MP for Asutifi North, arrived at the scene accompanied by several unidentified thugs.
The MP, allegedly claiming to be acting on instructions from his colleague, Collins Dauda, demanded the immediate release of the arrested miners, including a Burkinabe national, and insisted that their handcuffs be removed to avoid public embarrassment.
Colonel Buah firmly refused, explaining that due process required the suspects to be handed over to the police for investigation.
What followed was chaos. The MP and his men became aggressive, forcibly snatched the handcuff keys from one of the soldiers, and freed the detained suspects. They then chased the NAIMOS officials toward the Hwidiem Police Station, disrupting law enforcement procedures in the process.
When the team finally reached the police station, they were met by an irate crowd of nearly 600 locals, reportedly mobilized and incited by the MP.
The mob demanded the release of the arrested suspects and the return of their seized vehicles, threatening to “discipline” the soldiers if their demands were not met.
Tensions escalated quickly as the mob vandalized the NAIMOS Director’s Toyota Hilux pickup and threatened to burn down the police station.
Despite repeated pleas for calm, Kwaku Addo reportedly failed to control the crowd. Reinforcements led by Chief Superintendent Prince Odom-Koduah, the Ahafo Regional Crime Officer, along with senior police officials including Superintendent John Atanga (Goaso Divisional Commander) and Superintendent Opoku Yamoah (Kenyase District Commander), were deployed to contain the situation.
The volatile standoff persisted until the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, Alhaji Mohammed Bashiru Zarikyi, intervened and appealed to the crowd to disperse peacefully.
However, as darkness fell and power went out, the atmosphere became increasingly dangerous. To prevent further violence and potential casualties, the police, military, and the Zongo Chief agreed to hand over the keys to the seized vehicles to defuse tensions.
The Zongo Chief then volunteered his Toyota Sequoia 4×4 vehicle to help evacuate Colonel Buah and his team to safety at the Newmont Mine site in Kenyase under armed police escort.
During the evacuation, the Chief’s vehicle came under attack from the mob, shattering its rear windscreen. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.
In a post-incident statement, Colonel Buah described the MP’s conduct as “an unfortunate display of impunity and a blatant obstruction of justice.”
He stressed that the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, requires collective commitment from all Ghanaians, especially lawmakers and public officials, to uphold the law rather than shield offenders.
He further noted that NAIMOS remains resolute in its mandate to eliminate illegal mining, restore degraded lands, and protect Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.
“This incident will not deter our efforts. We will continue to pursue our mandate with professionalism and courage,” he said.
The Hwidiem and Ahafo police have since launched an investigation into the attack and the alleged involvement of Kwaku Addo and his associates.
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