The Zongo Chief of Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region, Alhaji Mohammed Bashiru, has come to the defence of the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Addo, amid claims linking him to last weekend’s violent confrontation between local youth and a national anti-illegal mining taskforce at the Hwidiem Police Station.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Alhaji Bashiru dismissed as false any suggestion that the MP incited or sponsored the mob that attacked the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) team led by Colonel Dominic Buah.
“If I am given the Holy Qur’an to swear, I will say nothing but the truth,” the Zongo Chief declared. “The MP, Ebenezer Addo, was on his way to a funeral and only stopped when he came across the chaos. He did not call any thugs to attack the taskforce; he won’t do that, and I don’t know him to be that kind of person.”
Alhaji Bashiru explained that by the time the MP arrived at the scene, the situation had already spiralled out of control. He said Mr. Addo’s presence was aimed at helping to calm tensions and ensure the safety of the soldiers who were surrounded by angry youth.
“I am not aware he gave the soldiers any money,” he added. “What I witnessed was an effort to protect lives and restore order, not to cause confusion.”
The Zongo Chief further clarified that the unrest arose from a misunderstanding regarding activities at the alleged illegal mining site.
“The youth were not doing galamsey,” he said. “They were engaging in ‘Sankofa,’ which is when young people return to abandoned mining sites to wash leftover soil in hopes of finding some gold. They may have felt intimidated, and that misunderstanding caused the disturbances.”
He stressed that while the youth’s actions led to chaos, there was no organised attack orchestrated by any political figure or authority.
Alhaji Bashiru also revealed that his personal vehicle, which was used to transport the soldiers to safety, was later involved in an accident.
“My car, a Toyota Sequoia 4×4, crashed into a tricycle after the incident, and it is currently in police custody,” he said.
The confrontation on Saturday, November 1, 2025, followed the arrest of two men by the NAIMOS taskforce at a mining site near Hwidiem, along with the seizure of vehicles and equipment. The arrests reportedly triggered outrage among local residents, who later besieged the police station demanding the release of the suspects and vehicles.
Security has since been reinforced in the area, and calm has been restored. Police investigations into the disturbance and property damage are ongoing.
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