The Ghana Police Service has taken over the investigation into an attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team by a mob at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region, police said on Monday.
The Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to lead the inquiry following the incident, which police said involved a crowd allegedly incited by the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo. The MP has been invited to assist with the ongoing investigation.
According to a police statement, on Saturday (1 November) the NAIMOS team intercepted illegal miners near Bronikrom, recovering firearms, ammunition, unregistered vehicles, and mobile phones. While preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, police said the MP arrived with a group and demanded the release of the miners. When refused, the group allegedly removed the suspects’ handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team away.
A mob of around 600 people reportedly besieged the police station, vandalizing vehicles and parts of the building, while threatening to set it on fire. Reinforcements from the Ahafo Regional Command, alongside the military and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, helped restore order and safely evacuate the NAIMOS team. No injuries were reported, though the Chief’s vehicle was damaged during the intervention.
The police condemned the attack and warned against interference with law enforcement operations, stating that a special operation has been launched to identify and arrest those responsible.
“Perpetrators of this attack will face the full rigours of the law,” the statement said, signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director-General of Public Affairs.
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