Galamsey Fight: Attack on NAIMOS team a 'test case' for Mahama – Awula Serwah

The coordinator of the environmental advocacy group Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take immediate and decisive action following the latest galamsey-related attack, describing it as a “test case” for the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining.

Her remarks come after reports emerged of a mob assault on a NAIMOS team conducting an anti-galamsey operation over the weekend, which required police intervention to protect the officers.

The NAIMOS officers had earlier apprehended two suspected illegal miners and seized vehicles and equipment at a site roughly ten meters from the Hwidiem–Goaso Highway.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Joshua Kodjo Mensah on Monday, November 3, Awula Serwah stressed the urgency of holding those responsible to account, stating, “This should be the turning point. These two MPs should be arrested.”

She added, “The president should speak. He should not be silent. The head of NAIMOS should speak out, clarify what happened, and let Ghanaians know that robust action is being taken.”

Sewa also warned that failing to act decisively could erode public trust in the fight against illegal mining.

“We arrest high-fliers when they are no longer close to the party in government… Now that he’s no longer the slinger of the month, he has been arrested. So what we are saying is that this is a test. We need to have some assurance that the government is actually serious about fighting illegal mining. When persons close to the administration are involved. So yes, it’s a test.”

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has since directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to oversee the inquiry into the incident, while the Asutifi North MP has been invited to assist with the ongoing investigations.