The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) has strongly condemned a violent mob attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) taskforce at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region, which occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
According to eyewitnesses, the NAIMOS team had embarked on a reconnaissance mission in Hwidiem to monitor suspected illegal mining activities in the area. During the operation, the team reportedly identified individuals believed to be engaged in unlawful mining and attempted to arrest them. However, the situation quickly turned chaotic when a group of angry youth, suspected to be linked to the illegal miners, launched an attack on the officers.
The mob, armed with sticks and stones, vandalized one of the taskforce’s operational vehicles and forced the officers to retreat. Although no deaths were recorded, the assault left members of the NAIMOS team severely shaken and raised deep concerns about the growing hostility faced by security and regulatory personnel enforcing anti-illegal mining laws.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Godwin Nickleson Amarh, and released in Accra on Monday, November 3, 2025, GNASSM described the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable, stressing that such acts of violence threaten national stability and the rule of law. The association reiterated that NAIMOS operates as a legitimate state institution and that its officers must not be attacked or hindered in the discharge of their lawful duties.
The association further expressed grave concern over the increasing aggression towards state agencies involved in anti-illegal mining operations and drew parallels to the 2017 tragedy involving the late Major Maxwell Mahama, who was lynched while on duty. GNASSM cautioned that mob actions of this nature have no place in a civilized and law-abiding society and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
It urged the youth in all mining communities to channel any grievances or concerns regarding NAIMOS activities through their local leadership and appropriate legal frameworks instead of resorting to violence. GNASSM indicated that it has been working closely with NAIMOS over the past month to educate small-scale miners across the country on the operations of the anti-illegal mining taskforce and to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between miners and security personnel.
Deeply worried about the Hwidiem attack, the association called on the government to immediately conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that all those involved are arrested and prosecuted. It emphasized that taking swift and decisive action would serve as a deterrent to others who might consider similar lawless acts against legitimate state operations.
GNASSM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government in its ongoing fight against illegal mining while promoting responsible, sustainable, and community-driven small-scale mining practices. The association appealed to chiefs, opinion leaders, and youth groups in all mining areas to cooperate with state agencies to maintain peace and safeguard the progress made in regularizing the small-scale mining sector.
The attack in Hwidiem has once again brought to the forefront the urgent need for stronger community engagement, continuous education, and effective law enforcement to protect the lives of officers working tirelessly to safeguard Ghana’s natural resources from illegal exploitation.
