The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has unequivocally condemned the reported attack on the Director of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team in Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.
In a statement released on November 4, 2025, UTAG says the attack is direct assault on Ghana’s collective struggle against the destructive galamsey menace.
Responding to the alleged involvement of the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, UTAG said “it is deeply troubling that such an act could emanate from a duty-bearer entrusted with upholding the law and advancing the national interest.”
According to UTAG, the situation reflects the “entrenched political interference, impunity, and elite complicity that continue to undermine national anti-galamsey efforts.”
“Illegal mining has caused irreversible damage to Ghana’s water bodies, degraded vast tracts of arable land, and threatened public health and food security. As academics, researchers, and citizens committed to sustainable national development, we cannot remain silent in the face of this existential threat,” UTAG stressed.
UTAG has therefore called for an independent and transparent investigation into the attack and the subsequent release of suspects, ensuring that justice is served without fear or favour.
The Association urged Parliament and political parties to publicly denounce acts that embolden environmental lawlessness and to demonstrate leadership by example.
UTAG reaffirmed its national advocacy campaign against galamsey, which mobilizes over 7,000 university lecturers and researchers to promote scientific, legal, and civic interventions toward environmental restoration and good governance.
UTAG encouraged citizens, traditional authorities, and civil society organizations to work collaboratively with state agencies to protect Ghana’s remaining ecological assets and ensure accountability.
“The fight against illegal mining is not a partisan contest but a moral and generational duty. UTAG stands firm in its conviction that the survival of our rivers, forests, and communities is inseparable from the survival of the Ghanaian nation itself,” UTAG said.
UTAG called on all leaders—political, traditional, and institutional—to rise above partisan interests and act decisively in defence of the environment, justice, and national dignity.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has been granted bail of GH¢150,000 with one surety to be justified after appearing before a court on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
He is also required to report to investigators once every two weeks until the court reverses the order or the trial begins.
As part of his bail conditions, he has been barred by the court from leaving the Greater Accra Region without notifying investigators.
His appearance in court follows his alleged involvement in the attack on NAIMOS at Hwidiem. He is facing provisional charges of assault on a public officer, unlawful damage, and rioting with weapons.
Background
In connection with the incident, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo was invited to assist with the ongoing investigation. The MP is alleged to have incited a mob and obstructed the NAIMOS team’s operations.
Preliminary police investigation indicates that the incident began on Saturday, November 1, 2025, when the NAIMOS Director and his team intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region and arrested several suspects.
Exhibits retrieved from the suspects were reported to include a side-hang bag containing one Smith & Wesson pistol, two pistol magazines, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover, an unregistered Toyota RAV4 vehicle, and several mobile phones.
According to the Police statement, while the NAIMOS team was preparing to hand over the suspects at the Hwidiem Police Station, the MP reportedly arrived with a group of men and demanded the suspects’ release. When the demand was refused, the group forcibly removed the suspects’ handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team from the scene.
The situation escalated when a mob numbering about 600, allegedly incited by the MP, later besieged the Hwidiem Police Station, demanding the release of the arrested miners and the seized vehicles. The enraged crowd vandalized the NAIMOS Director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to set the facility ablaze.
Ebenezer Kwaku Addo has denied the accusation that he incited the youth to attack the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.