The Ashanti Regional Branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the reported shooting and killing of civilians during an operation involving personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Manso Keniago in the Ashanti Region.
The party has called for an independent, transparent and prompt investigation into the incident, insisting that the fight against illegal mining must not be used to justify the unlawful use of force or the loss of civilian lives.
The call follows a confrontation between residents of Manso Keniago in the Amansie South District and NAIMOS personnel, which has left seven people dead and 13 others injured.
The incident reportedly followed a disagreement over the transportation of excavators seized by the anti‑illegal mining task force during an operation in the community.
Some residents and traditional authorities reportedly objected to the decision to drive the seized excavators through the community on the tarred road, insisting that the equipment should instead be transported on low‑bed trailers.
In a statement signed by its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Augustus Andrews Nana Akwasi, the NDC said it supported the national effort to combat illegal mining but stressed that enforcement operations must respect the rights and safety of civilians.
The party said that “the use of lethal force cannot be treated as a routine enforcement measure”, stressing that the mandate to combat illegal mining did not give NAIMOS personnel unrestricted authority to shoot or kill.
“Support for the fight against illegal mining must never be interpreted as approval of the excessive or unlawful use of force. The authority to kill is not part of NAIMOS’s terms of reference. We call on the relevant authorities to institute an independent, transparent and prompt investigation into the incidents at Manso Keniago and Obuasi; establish the circumstances that led to the shootings; and ensure that any persons found to have acted unlawfully are held accountable in accordance with the law,” the statement added.
The NDC said the recurrence of fatal shootings in mining communities required serious attention to the conduct of enforcement personnel, the use of firearms and safeguards to protect civilian lives.
It cited the January 2025 shooting incident at the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Obuasi, involving military personnel deployed to guard the mine concession, in which several civilians described as suspected illegal miners were reportedly killed, while others sustained injuries.
According to the party, the incidents in Obuasi and Manso Keniago highlight the need for stronger safeguards during operations to combat illegal mining.
It therefore urged the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shootings at both locations and ensure that anyone found to have acted unlawfully was held accountable.
The party also called for affected families to be treated with dignity, kept informed and provided with the necessary support.
Additionally, it urged NAIMOS to review its operational procedures, strengthen human‑rights and de‑escalation training, and ensure that its personnel operate within clearly defined legal limits.
“The fight against illegal mining must be firm, lawful and humane. It must protect our rivers, forests and lands without needlessly endangering the lives of the very people whose welfare the state is bound to protect,” the statement said.
The NDC Ashanti Region also urged residents to cooperate with lawful enforcement operations while insisting that their rights and safety must be respected.
The party said it remained committed to environmental protection and the rule of law, adding that it would not support impunity or the needless loss of innocent lives under the guise of enforcement.
