NDC faithful demand NAIMOS withdrawal after deadly Keniago clash

The Manso Adubia Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately withdraw personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) from the area following a deadly clash that reportedly left seven people dead and 13 others injured.

The party's constituency executives have also accused some NAIMOS operatives of allegedly extorting money from miners, claiming that personnel demand as much as GH¢200,000 for every excavator found at mining sites.

Addressing journalists at Manso Keniago, the NDC Constituency Secretary, Samuel Asante, said the reported incidents of violence, alleged extortion and loss of lives had raised serious concerns about the conduct of the anti-illegal mining operations in the constituency.

His comments followed a confrontation between NAIMOS personnel, chiefs and residents of the community, which reportedly resulted in gunfire, killing seven people, including minors, and leaving 13 others with varying degrees of injuries.

Asante said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, alleging that similar violent confrontations and fatal incidents had occurred in other mining communities, including Akwasiso, Tontokrom and Nyakomase.

He called for an independent investigation into the Manso Keniago shooting and previous incidents in the constituency to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence and determine whether there had been operational misconduct, excessive use of force or failures in supervision.

The constituency secretary further alleged that the party had received several complaints from miners accusing some NAIMOS operatives of demanding GH¢200,000 per excavator discovered at mining sites.

According to him, the allegations raise questions about possible abuse of official authority for personal financial gain and must be independently investigated.

Although he acknowledged the government's commitment to tackling illegal mining, particularly in forest reserves, water bodies and other protected areas, Asante insisted that the exercise must not become a channel for intimidation, extortion or the unlawful use of force.

He argued that efforts to protect the country's natural resources must be conducted within the confines of the law and with respect for human rights.

On the back of the allegations and the reported fatalities, the Manso Adubia NDC branch is demanding the immediate withdrawal of NAIMOS operatives from the constituency pending an independent investigation into their conduct.

The party also wants government to investigate previous shooting incidents in the mining enclave and take appropriate action based on the findings.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Small-Scale Miners Association, Michael Adu Gyamfi, has questioned the clarity of NAIMOS' operational mandate and called for a comprehensive review of the modalities governing its activities.

He expressed concern about the way the operations are conducted, arguing that a review was necessary to address the concerns surrounding the conduct and accountability of personnel deployed to mining communities.

EA