The Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has issued a detailed statement denying allegations that he led a mob to attack members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force during a violent confrontation at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.

In the statement dated November 3, 2025, Mr. Addo described the reports linking him to the attack as “an unfortunate misunderstanding”, emphasizing that his actions on the day were solely aimed at calming tensions, not inciting violence.

Narrating his side of the story, the MP explained that on November 1, 2025, he was en route to a funeral at Achrensua in the Asutifi South Constituency when he was informed of an ongoing tense standoff between residents and military officers conducting an anti-illegal mining operation.

He said he immediately contacted Hon. Collins Dauda, MP for Asutifi South—who was out of the country at the time—and was asked to visit the site to assess the situation on his behalf.

“When I got to Hwidiem with my constituency vice chairman and driver, I introduced myself to the security officers and asked them to speak with Hon. Collins Dauda directly on the phone,” he stated.

Mr. Addo added that upon noticing a gathering crowd at the site, he advised that the matter be moved to the police station to de-escalate tensions.
“I suggested that we go to the Hwidiem Police Station so that statements could be taken and suspects handed over properly. That was the responsible thing to do,” he explained.

According to the MP, when they arrived at the police station, they found that the main road had been blocked, creating further disorder. Together with the military, police, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) officials, and local leaders, they remained at the charge office until calm was restored.

Mr. Addo said he also reached out to the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, who played a crucial role in calming the crowd and ensuring the safe evacuation of the officers. The chief, he noted, even offered his vehicle to transport the military after their pickup was damaged.

The MP reaffirmed his commitment to peace and cooperation with law enforcement, saying his involvement was purely mediatory.

“My only intention was to help defuse tension and prevent the situation from escalating further. I would never interfere with security operations,” he stressed.

His clarification comes after a Ghana Police Service statement alleged that Mr. Addo had led a group to demand the release of arrested miners, resulting in a mob attack on the NAIMOS team.

The police said that when their demand was refused, the mob forcibly freed the suspects, vandalized vehicles—including that of the NAIMOS Director of Operations—and attempted to set the Hwidiem Police Station ablaze before calm was restored by security reinforcements.

Mr. Addo, however, insists the allegations are false and politically motivated, maintaining that his role was one of intervention, not confrontation.