The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has denied allegations that he obstructed a military-led anti-illegal mining operation in the Ahafo Region, following reports that he prevented the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), from conducting an operation in the area.
In a statement issued by his office, the legislator described the claims as “false narratives aimed at tarnishing my reputation” and said his actions at Hwidiem were guided by a desire to maintain peace and order.
“I wish to state that under no circumstance will I incite the youth against security officers and any government planned agenda,” the MP said. “As a responsible lawmaker, I offered my support to ensure there is calmness in the area and will always work together with every security agency to maintain law and order.”
He explained that on November 1, 2025, he was travelling to a funeral in Acherensua when he noticed growing tension in Hwidiem. After making inquiries, he learned that a military taskforce was conducting an operation in the area. According to him, he contacted Collins Dauda, MP for Asutifi South, who was outside the country, and was asked to visit the site and report back.
Upon his arrival, he said, he identified himself to the team leader and advised that the suspects and seized items be taken to the police station to prevent further unrest. “It is quite unfortunate that the police in their sitrep failed to acknowledge my contribution towards ensuring that calmness prevail,” he said, reaffirming his “commitment to the welfare and safety of Ghanaian citizens and other state institutions.”
The MP’s statement came in response to a statement issued by the police that while the team was preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, reportedly arrived at the scene with a group and demanded their release.
Also, in a Facebook post by Erastus Asare Donkor, a journalist with the Multimedia Grou, he reported that the incident began when NAIMOS conducted a reconnaissance mission in the Ahafo Region. According to the journalist’s account, the NAIMOS Director of Operations, accompanied by 10 soldiers, was on a mission to identify a permanent site for a taskforce deployment when they encountered an excavator engaged in illegal mining near Bronikrom along the Goaso–Hwidiem highway.
The team arrested several individuals at the site and uncovered a Smith & Wesson pistol, two magazines, 21 rounds of ammunition, 12 mobile phones, GH₵11,000 in cash, and other items during a search. The taskforce also set ablaze makeshift structures used by the miners before preparing to hand the suspects over to the police.
Erastus Asare’s report stated that while the task force was arranging the transfer, the MP arrived with a group of men, claiming to represent Collins Dauda, and demanded that the arrested individuals, including a Burkinabe national, be released and their handcuffs removed. The Director of Operations declined, insisting that standard procedures be followed.
The situation reportedly escalated when the MP’s supporters forcibly took the handcuff keys from a soldier, freed the suspects, and followed the taskforce to the Hwidiem Police Station, where a crowd of about 600 residents gathered. The mob demanded the release of the suspects and seized vehicles, vandalizing the Toyota Hilux pickup of the NAIMOS Director, and threatened to burn down the station.
Senior officers, including Chief Superintendent Prince Odom-Koduah, Superintendent John Atanga, and Superintendent Opoku Yamoah, were called in to stabilize the situation. As night fell and power went out, the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, Alhaji Mohammed Bashiru Zarikyi, intervened, pleading for calm.
To ease tensions, the authorities released the keys to the seized vehicles, and the Chief offered his Toyota Sequoia to escort Colonel Buah, the NAIMOS Director, and his team to safety at the Newmont site in Kenyasi. The vehicle’s rear windscreen was smashed during the evacuation, though no injuries were reported.
According to the account, the NAIMOS Director later described the MP’s actions as “unfortunate and a serious obstruction of operations,” warning that interference in anti-illegal mining efforts undermines national security and environmental protection.
The MP, however, maintains that he acted responsibly to prevent the situation from escalating and has urged the public to disregard what he calls “distorted accounts” of his role.
Police Report Below;
