Step Down and Protect the Dignity of Parliament  — UTAG Boss Tells ‘galamsey’ MPs

The President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Eric Abavare, has called for the immediate resignation of Members of Parliament alleged to have instigated an attack on officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, Prof. Abavare described the incident as “shameful” and a disgrace to Ghana’s democratic institutions, stressing that lawmakers should not undermine the state’s efforts to combat illegal mining.

“If it had been an ordinary person, the police would have gone after that person. I am looking forward to seeing the police go after him through the Speaker of Parliament. It is shameful, and I call for their resignation immediately,” he said.

Prof. Abavare added that the MPs involved should preserve whatever dignity remains by stepping down voluntarily.“It is a shame, and the little dignity they have, they must protect it by stepping out,” he added.

Attack on NAIMOS Officials

The call follows an incident on November 1, 2025, when the Director of Operations at NAIMOS and his team were allegedly attacked by a mob said to have been led by the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Hon. Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, and Hon. Collins Dauda, the MP for Asutifi South, during an anti-illegal mining operation at Hwidiem near Bronikrom.

According to police reports, the NAIMOS taskforce had arrested suspected illegal miners and seized weapons, vehicles, and cash. Shortly after, the MP allegedly arrived at the scene with a group that forcibly freed the suspects, sparking chaos that spread to the Hwidiem Police Station.

Hundreds of residents reportedly besieged the station, vandalizing vehicles and damaging property. Police reinforcements and the HwidiemZongo Chief later intervened to restore calm and safely evacuate the NAIMOS officials. No deaths were recorded, though several vehicles were damaged.

Prof. Abavare said the incident confirmed long-held suspicions that influential figures were behind illegal mining operations across the country.“I have always suspected that bigger people are behind the environmental carnage. This is a revelation that our belief has been right all along — that these big people are involved,” he said.

 

Public Safety Bureau Demands Swift Action

In a related development, the Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety, Dr. Nana Akwada, has also condemned the attack and urged swift investigations and prosecutions.

“The youth, the front leaders, and the gang leaders involved in this shameful act must all be identified using CCTV footage, declared wanted, arrested, and brought to book,” he stated.

Dr.Akwada emphasized that the state must treat the matter with the utmost seriousness to send a clear signal that impeding government operations will not be tolerated.

“It is important that, as a serious country, we take this matter seriously and process it swiftly so that the signal is clear — no high-profile individual, no person of influence, and not even a commoner should go scot-free if they attempt to obstruct government-sanctioned operations,” he stressed.

MPs Respond to Allegations

Meanwhile, both MPs accused in the incident have denied any wrongdoing.In a statement dated November 3, 2025, Hon. Ebenezer KwakuAddo said his presence at Hwidiem was to help calm tensions, not to incite violence. He explained that he visited the site after hearing reports of unrest, and upon arrival, advised the youth to move to the police station to resolve the matter peacefully.

“At the site, I saw some youth gathering, so I advised that we move to the police station to make a statement and hand over any suspects to calm tensions,” he said.He added that he later called the HwidiemZongo Chief to assist in calming the situation after the road was blocked and the team’s vehicle was tampered with.

The Asutifi South MP, Collins Dauda, also denied instructing anyone to release the arrested miners. Speaking on Asempa FM, he explained that he was in South Africa attending a Pan-African Parliament meeting when he received reports from his constituency.

“When I heard of the operation, I asked my Assembly member to speak with the team leader, but he refused. Later, the Asutifi North MP contacted me, saying he was coming for a funeral in my constituency. I asked him to speak with the commander to get a briefing. He did not go there to interfere,” Dauda said.

He added that his involvement ended at that point and that he was unaware of the subsequent violent confrontation.

 

 

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