The Inspector General of Police has directed that the CID headquarters should take over investigations in the attack on the boss of NAIMOS and his team at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region at the weekend.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo has also been invited by the police to assist in investigations.
The Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team were attacked at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region on Saturday [Nov 1, 2025].
The MP for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo is alleged to have incited the mob and obstructed the NAIMOS team.
In a media interview, however, Mr Kwaku Addo has denied inciting the mob. He said he only went to the area to intervene to restore calm.
According to the police, their preliminary investigation has established that on Saturday [Nov 1], the NAIMOS Director and his team intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region and arrested some suspects.
Exhibits retrieved from them include a side-hang bag containing one Smith & Wesson pistol, two pistol magazines, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover vehicle, an unregistered Toyota RAV4 vehicle and several mobile phones.
In a press statement, the police explained that while the team was preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the MP [Kwaku Addo] reportedly arrived with a group of men and demanded their release.
When his [Addo] demand was refused, the group forcibly removed the suspects' handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team from the scene.
The police said a mob numbering about 600, allegedly incited by the MP, later besieged the Hwidiem Police Station demanding the release of the miners and seized vehicles.
The crowd vandalized the Director's vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to set it ablaze.
A reinforcement team from the Ahafo Regional Command was deployed to restore order and prevent further destruction.
The police said calm was eventually restored through the joint efforts of the police, the military, and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, who helped mediate the situation and facilitated the safe evacuation of the NAIMOS team.
The chief's vehicle was damaged during the process, but no injuries were reported, the police explained.
"The Ghana Police Service strongly condemns the attack and would like to caution against interference with law enforcement operations. A special operation has been launched to identify and arrested perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law," it added.
Attached below is a copy of the police statement
DIRECTS CID HEADQUARTERS TO TAKE OVER INVESTIGATION INTO ATTACK ON NAIMOS DIRECTOR AND HIS TEAM AT HWIDIEM: ASUTIFI NORTH MP INVITED TO ASSIST THE INVESTIGATION
