The National Security operative in the Ashanti region has dismissed a claim of their involvement in a clash between security operatives and residents of Manso Mpatasie over the seizure of excavators.
The incident that happened at Manso Mpatasie, a community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, left one person injured.
The chaos unfolded when the security personnel stormed the area in search of excavators allegedly used in illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The operation turned confrontational when officers attempted to seize excavators parked in residential compounds rather than at active mining sites, sparking outrage among residents and miners.
The residents who spoke to the media on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, accused the National Security of acting wrongly, even without a warrant, which they believed caused the confrontation.
They argued that the excavators were not used for any illegality, as claimed by the operatives, and they would resist any further attempts to take their excavators away.
However, the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Captain (rtd) John Kwame Jabari, in an interview, debunked the claims, stating that the action was part of the Inspector General of Police-led operations aimed at clamping down on illegal mining activities in the area.
“The action was carried out by the IGP-led operations stationed at Manso Adubia to retrieve parked excavators in a residential place used in illegal mining. It was part of an exercise in curbing galamsey in the area. The National Security was not involved,” he clarified.
