arlier reports indicated that some angry youths gathered in large numbers at the Ahafo police station, demanding the presence of the soldiers who had been rescued by a police reinforcement team at Ahafo Hwediem in the Ahafo Region.
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Following the incident, media personality and anti-galamsey advocate, Erastus Asare Donkor, has given a detailed, blow-by-blow account of the events leading up to it.
Clamp down on galamsey
According to Donkor’s account, ten military officers, who are members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), led by their Director of Operations, conducted an operation in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
He indicated that while on their operation, the NAIMOS Director received information that an excavator was actively being used for mining along the roadside near Bronikrom, prompting the team to move to the area and arrest the illegal miners, including a Burkinabe national.
“On Saturday, 1st November 2025, the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), accompanied by ten (10) soldiers, conducted a reconnaissance mission in the Ahafo Region. The objective was to identify a suitable location for the permanent deployment of a NAIMOS field task force in line with the Secretariat’s strategic plan to sustain anti-illegal mining operations.
“While travelling along the Goaso to Hwidiem highway, the Director’s attention was drawn to an excavator engaged in mining along the roadside near Bronikrom. The team diverted to the location and apprehended several individuals actively mining. The Director instructed the suspects to refill the pits they had dug to prevent further environmental degradation,” he narrated.
Calls after arrest
Erastus Asare Donkor further stated that the NAIMOS team demanded the presence of the site owner at the location where the mining was being carried out.
He added that an individual later arrived, identifying himself as a Defence Intelligence (DI) representative from the Ahafo Region, followed by another person who reportedly claimed to be the site owner.
A search conducted by the NAIMOS team at the site led to the discovery of ammunition of various kinds, as well as cash and mobile phones.
“The Director then ordered one of the arrested persons to call the site owner. The first individual to arrive identified himself as a Defence Intelligence (DI) representative from the Ahafo Region. Shortly after, an individual named Alex arrived in a Toyota RAV4, arrogantly claiming ownership of the site. Another man arrived later in a Range Rover and was also arrested. While at it, the NAIMOS field task force set ablaze shelters used as offices and shelters by the illegal miners. A search of the suspects’ vehicles led to a shocking discovery. The team found one (1) Smith and Wesson pistol, two (2) pistol magazines, and twenty-one (21) rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition, twelve (12) assorted mobile phones, a black side bag, cash amounting to eleven thousand (11,000) Ghana cedis, one power bank, and a Lexus ignition key,” he added.
Alleged MP’s involvement
Donkor added that while the NAIMOS team was at it, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, came to the scene with alleged thugs demanding the release of the arrested illegal miners.
“While arrangements were being made to convey the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, arrived at the scene with several thugs. The MP indicated that he was sent by Collins Dauda, MP for the area, and demanded that the Director release the arrested kingpins, including a Burkinabe, immediately and remove their handcuffs, arguing that he did not want the locals to see them in handcuffs. The Director politely declined the unlawful request, maintaining that the arrests were appropriate and that the right procedure be followed through to the Police.
“Subsequently, the MP and the thugs became violent and forcefully snatched the handcuffs keys from one of the soldiers and took the handcuffs off the kingpins before chasing the NAIMOS team, while going to the police station. Upon arrival at the Hwidiem Police Station to lodge a report and hand over the suspects and exhibits, a crowd of about six hundred (600) people from Hwidiem and nearby communities surrounded the station. The mob, incited by Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, demanded the immediate release of the arrested suspects and seized vehicles. They warned that they would ‘discipline’ the soldiers if their demands were ignored,” he added.
Attacks and vandalism
The alleged angry mob is said to have vandalized vehicles and threatened to burn down the Hwediem Police Station.
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“The situation quickly turned more violent. The Director of Operations’ Toyota Hilux pickup was vandalized, and the mob threatened to burn down the police station, even when the MP was reminded to call his mob to order. The tense standoff created a serious threat to life and property, placing immense pressure on both the Director of Operations and the police officers on duty,” he continued.
Donkor said that the NAIMOS team was later safely escorted out of the area by police reinforcements.
