‘We Are Farmers, Not Miners’ — Dadwen Residents Protest After Mass Arrests by Armed Forces
The peaceful farming community of Dadwen in the Adansi North District has been thrown into fear and outrage following what residents describe as an unlawful and violent raid carried out by joint military and police personnel on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The operation, believed to have been triggered by false intelligence linking the community to illegal mining, has left families devastated and the town virtually empty of adult males.
According to the Concerned Citizens of Dadwen, the armed officers rounded up approximately 350 residents — including minors — during a dawn swoop that reportedly involved severe beatings, destruction of property, and forced transportation of detainees to unknown locations. Distressed families say several children were taken away alongside adults, and their whereabouts remain unconfirmed, deepening the atmosphere of panic and uncertainty.
Addressing the media after the incident, community leaders vehemently rejected claims that Dadwen engages in galamsey activities. They emphasized that the town relies solely on legitimate livelihoods such as farming, palm oil processing, petty trading, and other rural economic activities, insisting that the allegations are false and must be withdrawn.
“We are farmers, not miners,” a spokesperson for the group declared. “Dadwen is innocent. The accusations that we are involved in galamsey are misleading and have caused us great suffering. This community does not host any form of illegal mining activity.”
Residents say the raid has disrupted economic activities, shattered family structures, and inflicted psychological trauma, especially on children who witnessed the armed operation. Community leaders further alleged that the security personnel acted on misdirected intel, claiming the armed team was initially deployed for an assignment in Hwediem in the Ahafo Region but mistakenly descended on Dadwen instead.
The residents are now demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all persons arrested, as well as compensation and medical support for alleged victims of assault. They are also calling for restitution for all damaged properties and a full-scale investigation to determine how an entire innocent community became the target of such an operation.
Local leaders are appealing to the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of National Security, civil society organizations, human rights groups, and media houses to intervene urgently to restore calm and ensure justice. They fear that if the situation is not addressed promptly, the social and economic consequences for the already vulnerable community will be severe and long-lasting.
As tension continues to rise, the people of Dadwen say they will not relent in their appeal for accountability, insisting that the dignity and safety of their community must be protected at all costs.
