The John Mahama government’s efforts to combat illegal mining have faced a significant setback due to reports of alleged internal sabotage.
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) claims to have been attacked by a mob, allegedly incited by the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ebenezer Kwaku Addo.
Since the incident, which happened on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Hwidiem, in the Ahafo Region, was reported, some known members of the party, who are currently serving in the NDC government, have taken to social media to crucify the MP for allegedly thwarting the government’s efforts against illegal mining.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Frank Amoakohene, posted that “Atanfoanyayɛn,
What was the MP thinking?” His post generated over one thousand comments in about three hours, with some condemning the said MP, while others urged the Ashanti Regional Minister to wait to hear the side of the accused.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei, described the alleged “actions” of the MP as “unparliamentary”.
“Your actions are unparliamentary and it is a shame for you as a Member of Parliament.
“How can you fight against what the President and the entire nation are seeking? You have truly embarrassed everyone,” the NEIP boss wrote.
That post, in about six hours, had generated over one thousand comments, with some suggesting to the MP to resign.
POLICE INVITE
On Monday, 3 November, 2025 the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, directed the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) at the police headquarters to step into the matter.
Contained in a statement released by the Ghana Police Service, it was announced that the MP has been invited to assist the CID’s Investigative Department’s probe into the incident.
A statement signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Director-General, Public Affairs, gave the chronology of events, as per the police’s “preliminary” investigations.
The statement said that the initial probe established that the NAIMOS Director and his team “intercepted illegal miners” operating near Bronikrom, near Hwidiem, in the Ahafo Region and arrested “some suspects.
Some exhibits, including two pistol magazines, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover vehicle, an unregistered Toyota Rav4 vehicle and several mobile phones were retrieved.
“While the [NAIMOS] team were preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the MP reportedly arrived with a group of men and demanded their release.
“When his demand was refused, the group forcibly removed the suspects’ handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team from the scene,” the statement said.
It continued that, “A mob numbering about 600, allegedly incited by the MP, later besieged the Hwidiem Police Station demanding the release of the miners and the seized vehicles.
“The crowd vandalised the director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to set it ablaze.”
The release added that reinforcement teams were deployed, and calm was restored with the help of the Zongo chief of Hwidiem, who helped to mediate the situation and facilitated the safe evacuation of the NAIMOS team, but the chief’s vehicle was damaged during the process.
The above statement from the police followed a sitrep from the regional command that narrated the incident to headquarters.
NO INCITE
The MP, Ebenezer KwakuAddo, in a statement denied the allegation that he incited the mob attack on the NAIMOS team.
He urged the public to “disregard” what he described as “false narratives”, claiming that they are aimed at “tarnishing” his reputation.
He asserted that he solely provided his assistance to maintain tranquilly in the area, expressing apprehension over the police’s failure to recognise his efforts in promoting calm.
LINK
The MP indicated that he only got himself soiled with the matter because his colleague MP, Collins Dauda, Asutifi South, had asked him to intervene on his behalf since he was out of the jurisdiction at the time.
According to him, when his attention was drawn to the incident, he informed his colleague, whom he shares a boundary with.
Collins Dauda then told him to visit the site to enable him to speak with the Director of the NAIMOS, adding that was what sent him to the scene. The narrative of the MP has also been shared by t the NEIP boss, who had earlier lambasted him.
In a phone interview on EkosiiSen on Asempa FM, Collins Dauda expressed disappointment at the allegation against his colleague.
He stated that his colleague went to the site at his request, because it was not his constituency.
Meanwhile, the MP in question has indicated his readiness to offer himself to the Police CID to assist in the investigation.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
