The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has finally broken his silence on the mob attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Hwidiem, in the Ahafo Region, calling for calm and urging security agencies to expedite investigations into the incident.
The MP, in a statement released on November 3, 2025, said he felt obliged to address what he described as “an unfortunate misunderstanding” regarding his involvement in the incident, which has since attracted national attention.
Recounting the events, the MP explained that on November 1, 2025, he was on his way to a funeral at Achrensua in the Asutifi South Constituency when he received reports of rising tensions at Hwidiem.
According to him, the situation involved military personnel carrying out operations at an illegal gold mining site.
He noted that he promptly reached out to the MP for Asutifi South, Hon. Collins Dauda, who was out of the country, and was asked to visit the scene on his behalf to gather first-hand information.
Addo stated that upon arriving in Hwidiem with his constituency vice chairman and driver, he introduced himself to the security officers present and facilitated a phone conversation between them and Hon. Dauda.
“At the location, I observed some youth assembling, so I advised that we proceed to the police station to make an official report and hand over any suspects to the police in order to diffuse tension,” he said.
He further explained that by the time they reached the Hwidiem Police Station, they saw that the main road had been obstructed, halting vehicular movement.
He added that he stayed at the charge office with officials from the military, police, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and other local security leaders while statements were being taken.
The MP said he later contacted the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem to help calm the situation, which the chief successfully managed.
Addo noted that the Zongo Chief eventually volunteered his vehicle to transport the military officers after it was discovered that their pickup truck had been interfered with.
Reaffirming his dedication to peace and cooperation with security agencies, Addo stressed that his actions were solely aimed at easing tensions and preventing the situation from escalating.
His statement comes after the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to assume full responsibility for probing the attack on NAIMOS.
The decision follows a clash on Saturday, November 1, 2025, when the NAIMOS team reportedly came under assault from a mob after apprehending individuals engaged in illegal mining activities near Bronikrom.
Initial police findings indicate that the operatives arrested several suspects and seized some items, including a Smith & Wesson pistol with ammunition, two pistol magazines, an unregistered Range Rover, an unregistered Toyota RAV4, and multiple mobile phones.
A police statement explained that while the arrested individuals were being processed for transfer to the Hwidiem Police Station, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, allegedly arrived at the location with a group and insisted on the suspects’ release.
When officers refused to comply, the crowd reportedly overpowered the NAIMOS team, freed the detainees, and forced the officials to retreat.
Later, an estimated 600 people—believed to have been mobilised following the confrontation—stormed the Hwidiem Police Station, demanding freedom for the suspects.
The mob vandalised vehicles, including the NAIMOS Director’s car, damaged sections of the police facility, and attempted to set the station on fire.
