A violent confrontation between residents of Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region and personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) has left four people dead and 15 others injured. The incident occurred when NAIMOS personnel were escorting seized excavators to a designated site for safekeeping as part of their efforts to crack down on illegal mining in the region.
According to Assembly Member Charles Oduro, the confrontation involved residents from Manso Keniago and other nearby communities. The police intervened to calm the situation, but one police officer was reportedly hit by a NAIMOS personnel. Oduro did not witness any cases of NAIMOS personnel being injured, contradicting earlier reports by NAIMOS that two of its personnel sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation.
This incident is not the first of its kind, as NAIMOS personnel have previously come under attack during anti-illegal mining operations. Last year, officials narrowly escaped death in a mob assault at Hwediem in the Ahafo Region while carrying out their duties. The operation resulted in the arrest of several miners, including a Burkinabe national, and sparked violent protests from locals.
NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf described the attack as "extremely and profoundly disappointing," adding that the officials "survived clearly by the mercy of God." The incident has raised concerns about the safety of NAIMOS personnel and the effectiveness of their operations in combating illegal mining in Ghana.
The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has been accused of inciting the mob against the NAIMOS team. NAIMOS has been actively targeting and destroying makeshift camps set up in forests and other areas used for illegal mining. Recently, the task force carried out raids in several areas, seizing excavators and destroying tools used for illegal mining activities.
In their latest mission at Ataso, NAIMOS seized two excavators and destroyed water pumps and other tools used for illegal mining activities. Unfortunately, the illegal miners managed to flee the area before their arrest. The task force has also destroyed a well-known illegal mining base at Aboso in the Western Region, referred to as 'Gunway,' a neighbourhood known for harboring hardened illegal miners.
The operation at Aboso resulted in the demolition of several makeshift structures that served as drug dens and hideouts within the crime-infested enclave. Authorities also recovered quantities of hard drugs from the suspects, including seven parcels of Indian hemp. The incident highlights the challenges faced by NAIMOS in combating illegal mining and the need for increased support and resources to effectively address the issue.
Key points
- Four people have been killed and 15 others injured in a clash between residents and NAIMOS personnel in Ghana's Ashanti Region.
- The incident is part of a larger pattern of violence against NAIMOS personnel during anti-illegal mining operations in Ghana.
- NAIMOS has been actively targeting and destroying makeshift camps and equipment used for illegal mining in several regions of Ghana.
