IGP orders CID to probe Hwidiem attack on anti-galamsey team

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to take over investigations into an attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team by a mob at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.

In a statement issued on November 3, 2025, the IGP reaffirmed the police administration’s commitment to enforcing the law without fear or favour, stressing that ‘no one is above the law, and the CID will get to the bottom of this matter.’

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“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 arrest perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law,” the statement said.

Preliminary investigations disclosed that on Saturday, November 1, 2025, the NAIMOS Director and his team intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom and arrested some suspects.

Items retrieved included a Smith & Wesson pistol, two magazines, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover, an unregistered Toyota RAV4, and several mobile phones.

However, the report said the MP for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, allegedly arrived at the scene with a group of men demanding the release of the suspects.

When the team refused, the group reportedly forcibly removed the handcuffs and chased the officers away.

Subsequently, a mob of about 600 people, reportedly incited by the MP, stormed the Hwidiem Police Station, demanding the release of the suspects and the seized vehicles.

The crowd vandalised the NAIMOS Director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to burn it down.

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Reinforcement teams from the Ahafo Regional Command were deployed to restore order.

Calm was later achieved through the combined efforts of the police, the military, and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, whose vehicle was dalso amaged during the incident.

No injuries were reported.

Read full statement below:

MRA/AE

Watch as police rescue 9 soldiers allegedly attacked by angry Ahafo Hwidiem youth: