The Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to take over investigations into an attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.
The incident occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025, when the NAIMOS team intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Asutifi North District.
The team arrested several suspects and retrieved exhibits including a Smith & Wesson pistol, two magazines, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover, an unregistered Toyota RAV4, and several mobile phones.
According to police, while the suspects were being taken to the Hwidiem Police Station, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, allegedly arrived with a group of men and demanded their release. When officers refused, the group forcibly removed the suspects’ handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team from the scene.
A mob of about 600 people, reportedly incited by the MP, later besieged the Hwidiem Police Station demanding the release of the suspects and seized vehicles. The crowd vandalised the Director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and attempted to set it ablaze.
Reinforcement teams from the Ahafo Regional Command were deployed to restore order. The joint efforts of the police, the military, and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem eventually brought the situation under control. The Chief’s vehicle was damaged during the process, but no injuries were reported.
The Ghana Police Service, in a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, strongly condemned the attack and warned against interference with law enforcement operations.
A special operation has been launched to identify and arrest all perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law.
NKONKONS.COM
