Renowned US-based Ghanaian lawyer and scholar, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, has raised serious issues with a statement issued by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, over the attack on a NAIMOS team that had arrested some persons believed to be illegal miners at Ahafo Hwidiem.
In a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, November 3, 2025, Professor Kwaku Asare, who is widely known as Kwaku Azar, indicated that the MP’s explanation that he only intervened after calling his colleague MP for the area, Collins Dauda, was problematic.
He said the MP’s statement, particularly the part about calling Collins Dauda, the MP for Asutifi South, leaves many questions unanswered.
“I don’t understand the MP. Why call Hon Collins Dauda, who is outside the country, instead of the District Commander or Operation Commander on the ground?
“That single act sums up everything wrong with the statement — blurred roles, political shortcuts, and unanswered questions,” Azar wrote.
He added that; “When MPs insert themselves into live security operations, confusion follows and discipline suffers. In Hwidiem, the public deserves clear answers, not cloudy statements.”
I was acting on the instructions of Collins Dauda – Asutifi North MP alleges
He listed the top ten issues that still hang in the air as follows:
1. Who authorised the MP to visit a military operation zone and act on behalf of another MP?
2. Why call an MP abroad instead of contacting the district or military commander in charge of the operation?
3. What exactly was the MP’s role at the scene — observer, mediator, or participant?
4. When did the MP arrive and when did he leave, and who can confirm his timeline?
5. Who were the “youth” the MP met, and how did they know to expect him?
‘I survived by the mercy of God’ – What NAIMOS director said after Ahafo Hwidiem attack
6. What does the MP mean by saying the military’s pickup was “tampered with”? Did he see the tampering? Who did it? If not, how did he conclude that it was tampered with?
7. Why were soldiers transported in the Zongo Chief’s private vehicle instead of calling for backup?
8. Who smashed that vehicle, and did he witness the attack? What does he mean by “the glass was smashed by then you had left”?
9. Did the MP enter the restricted mining area, and if so, on whose authority?
10. Why didn’t the MP coordinate with NAIMOS, the police, or the regional security command if his goal was to “maintain calm”?
Ebenezer Kwaku Addo explained that he intervened in the operation of the National Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in Ahafo Hwidiem upon the request of the MP for the area, Collins Dauda.
He said that he chanced upon the commotion at Ahafo Hwidiem, which is in Asutifi South, Collins Dauda’s constituency, and called him to inform him of what was happening.
He denied allegations that he incited the mob to obstruct the NAIMOS team in order to release some persons arrested by the military officers.
About the attack:
According to a report by journalist Erastus Asare Donkor, ten military officers, who are members of NAIMOS, led by their Director of Operations, conducted an operation in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
He indicated that while on their operation, the NAIMOS Director received information that an excavator was actively being used for mining along the roadside near Branikrom, prompting the team to move to the area and arrest the illegal miners, including a Burkinabe national.
Erastus Asare Donkor further stated that the NAIMOS team demanded the presence of the site owner at the location where the mining was being carried out.
He added that an individual later arrived, identifying himself as a Defence Intelligence (DI) representative from the Ahafo Region, followed by another person who reportedly claimed to be the site owner.
A search conducted by the NAIMOS team at the site led to the discovery of ammunition of various kinds, as well as cash and mobile phones.
View Azar’s post and the MP’s statement below:
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