A joint anti-galamsey operation in the Ahafo Region nearly turned tragic when a group of armed residents attacked nine soldiers at Hwidiem after they arrested suspected illegal miners at Bronikrom near Goaso.
The soldiers, who were on official assignment under the National Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce (NAIMOS), had reportedly raided an illegal mining site, arrested the operator, and seized two vehicles, mobile phones, and two pistols. They also set fire to makeshift structures and mining equipment found at the site.
However, the exercise provoked a violent reaction from local residents, estimated at over 600, who besieged the Hwidiem Police Station where the soldiers had lodged an official report. The angry crowd demanded the release of the seized vehicles and insisted that the soldiers be handed over to them for what they described as “disciplinary action.”
Tensions escalated further when Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, reportedly arrived at the scene in the company of a group of men. According to eyewitness accounts, the MP intervened in the matter, insisting that the arrested suspects, including a Burkinabe national, be released and their handcuffs removed to avoid public embarrassment.
The Director of the taskforce, however, refused the request, maintaining that due process must be followed through the Police. This reportedly angered some of the MP’s supporters, leading to a confrontation in which one of the soldiers was allegedly overpowered, and the handcuff keys forcibly taken to free the detained suspects.
The anti-galamsey team later retrieved one Smith and Wesson pistol, two magazines, twenty-one rounds of ammunition, twelve assorted mobile phones, GH₵11,000 in cash, and other items from the arrested miners.
Security analysts have since condemned the attack, describing it as a serious threat to the ongoing national campaign against illegal mining. They warned that political interference in law enforcement operations could undermine the fight against galamsey and embolden offenders.
Meanwhile, sources within the military say investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident, including the reported involvement of political figures. The Ghana Armed Forces and the Police have yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
