News
Take over investigation into attacks on NAIMOS Director and team- IGP directs CID
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters to take over investigations into the attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team by thugs at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.
Against this backdrop, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, who is alleged to have incited the mob and obstructed the NAIMOS team has been invited to assist ongoing investigation into the incident.
Preliminary investigation has established that on Saturday,November 1,2025, the NAIMOS Director and his team intercepted illegal miners operating near Bronikrom in the Ahafo Region and arrested some suspects.
Exhibits retrieved from them include a side- hang bag containing one (1) Smith & Wesson pistol, two (2) pistol magazines, twenty- one (21) rounds of 9mm ammunition, an unregistered Range Rover vehicle, an unregistered Toyota RAV4 vehicle and several mobile phones.
While the team were preparing to hand over the suspects to the Hwidiem Police Station, the MP reportedly arrived with a group of men and demanded their release.
When his demand was refused, the group forcibly removed the suspects’ handcuffs and chased the NAIMOS team from the scene.
A mob numbering about 600, allegedly incited by the MP, later besieged the Hwidiem Police Station demanding the release of the miners and seized vehicles.
The crowd vandalized the Director’s vehicle, damaged parts of the police station, and threatened to set it ablaze. Reinforcement teams from the Ahafo Regional Command were deployed to restore order and prevent further destruction.
Calm was eventually restored through the joint efforts of the police, the military, and the Zongo Chief of Hwidiem, who helped mediate the situation and facilitate the safe evacuation of the NAIMOS team.
The Chief’s vehicle was damaged during the process, but no injuries were reported.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has disclosed that poor coordination and weak communication among security agencies contributed significantly to the violence recorded during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
In his address on the findings of the Election-Related Violence Report, the Minister said the task force that investigated the incidents discovered that the lack of proper coordination between security institutions often led to confusion on the ground, resulting in clashes and excessive use of force in some areas.
Mr. Muntaka explained that in several instances, security agencies operated without clear communication channels, which created gaps in response and accountability. This, he said, made it difficult to control situations that later turned violent.
He emphasised that the report had recommended stronger collaboration and improved coordination mechanisms among the various security agencies to ensure effective communication and joint planning during future elections.
The Minister further noted that the report has been submitted to the Attorney General’s Department for legal advice and for determining appropriate compensation for victims and families affected by the violence.
He assured that the government is committed to implementing the task force’s recommendations to strengthen inter-agency coordination, enhance professionalism, and maintain peace and order in future electoral processes.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has announced that all mobile loan applications and digital credit service providers currently operating in the country without a license must regularize their operations by June 30, 2026.
In a public notice issued on October 31, 2025, the central bank said it will begin accepting applications from companies seeking to operate as Digital Credit Services Providers starting November 3, 2025.
The Bank explained that all entities offering digital loans or credit services must submit the required documents and meet the licensing requirements before the deadline.
It warned that any company that fails to comply with the directive will face regulatory action.
The Bank of Ghana urged operators and the public to contact its FinTech and Innovation Office in Accra for details on the licensing process or visit its official website, www.bog.gov.gh
By: Jacob Aggrey
