By Gifty Amofa
Accra, Nov. 4, GNA – Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, Inspector-General of Police, has directed the CID Headquarters to investigate the attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) Director of Operations team at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.
In a press release copied to the Ghana News Agency, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Grace Ansah Akrofi, Director-General of the Public Affairs Department, stated that Mr Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, who is alleged to have incited the mob and obstructed the NAIMOS team, has been invited to assist with investigations.
The release said preliminary findings indicated that on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the NAIMOS Director and his team intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region and arrested some suspects.
Exhibits retrieved included a side-hang bag containing one Smith & Wesson pistol, two pistol magazines, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover, an unregistered Toyota RAV4, and several mobile phones.
“While the team were preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the MP reportedly arrived with a group of men and demanded their release. When his demand was refused, the group forcibly removed the suspects’ handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team from the scene,” the statement said.
It said that a mob of about 600 people, allegedly incited by the MP, later besieged the Hwidiem Police Station, demanded the release of the suspects, and seized vehicles.
The crowd vandalised the Director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the station, and threatened to set it ablaze.
Reinforcement teams from the Ahafo Regional Command were deployed to restore order.
Calm was eventually restored through the joint efforts of the police, military, and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, who mediated the situation and facilitated the safe evacuation of the NAIMOS team.
The Chief’s vehicle was damaged during the incident, but no injuries were reported.
“The Ghana Police Service strongly condemns the attack and would like to caution against interference with law enforcement operations,” the statement said.
“A special operation has been launched to identify and arrest perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law,” it said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey