The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has found himself at the centre of a political and legal storm after being arraigned
The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has found himself at the centre of a political and legal storm after being arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court in connection with a violent attack on personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.
The embattled legislator, a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), was granted bail of GH₵150,000 with one surety after facing five provisional charges, including conspiracy to assault a public officer, assault on a public officer, conspiracy to cause unlawful damage, causing unlawful damage, and rioting with weapons.
The case stems from a November 1, 2025 incident at Bronikrom near Hwidiem, where a joint military-police NAIMOS team conducting an anti-galamsey operation was attacked by an armed mob.
The task force, led by Colonel Dominic Buah, Director of Operations had arrested several illegal miners and seized an excavator operating dangerously close to the Goaso–Hwidiem highway.
Tensions escalated when the MP allegedly arrived at the scene, demanding the release of the arrested miners and confronting the military officers.
Witnesses claim that the MP’s supporters overpowered one of the soldiers, forcibly retrieved the handcuff keys, and released the suspects — including a foreign national believed to be a Burkinabe— leading to violent clashes.
The attack resulted in several military vehicles being vandalized, and NAIMOS personnel were reportedly chased by an irate crowd of over 600 people who besieged the Hwidiem Police Station, demanding the release of the suspects.
The incident prompted an emergency intervention by the Ahafo Regional Police Command, with support from senior officers and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, Alhaji Mohammed Bashiru Zarikyi, who helped restore calm.
The NAIMOS team was later evacuated under police escort to the Newmont Mine site at Kenyase, but not before their convoy came under stone attack.
In court on Tuesday, November 4, prosecutors led by Chief Inspector Alex Odonkor urged the judge to remand the MP, arguing that the case had national security implications and that the accused, due to his influence, could interfere with witnesses or evidence.
They cited viral videos showing parts of the violent confrontation. The defense team, led by Enoch Sebastian Owusu, however, countered that the MP had willingly presented himself to the police, had no history of evading justice, and was only at the scene to calm tensions between the task force and local residents.
The presiding judge granted bail but ordered the MP not to travel outside the Greater Accra Region without notifying investigators and to report every two weeks to the police.
The case has been adjourned to December 1, 2025. Other suspects, including one Zakaria Yakubu and a man identified only as “Alex,” remain at large.
The development has sparked a political firestorm, with critics accusing the judiciary of leniency after the MP’s comparatively low bail amount drew sharp contrasts with previous high-profile cases involving opposition figures.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, has distanced the legislature from the controversy, declaring that Parliament “will not shield any member implicated in criminal acts.”
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Bagbin said, “There are several Members of Parliament currently under investigation, and my office has never shielded any of them.”
“Many have voluntarily appeared before investigative bodies without even notifying my office. It must not be said anywhere that Parliament is a refuge for wrongdoing.”
The controversy stems from an incident on Saturday, November 1, 2025, when NAIMOS officials came under attack during an anti-illegal mining operation at Bronikrom near Hwediem.
The task force, operating under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, was carrying out a sanctioned raid to clamp down on illegal miners when a group of irate youth allegedly resisted the operation, leading to violence.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has also issued a statement condemning the attack on the NAIMOS officers and promising swift investigations to ensure justice.
“This government remains resolute in its fight against illegal mining and will not tolerate any form of obstruction or interference, no matter who is involved,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Asutifi South MP, Collins Dauda, who was mentioned in earlier reports as having directed the Asutifi North MP to the scene, has categorically denied any involvement, stating from South Africa — where he is attending the Pan-African Parliament — that he only asked his colleague to “intervene after hearing of the incident.”
The Hwidiem galamsey clash has become a litmus test for the Mahama administration’s commitment to its anti-illegal mining drive.
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