The youth of Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region have denied any involvement in the recent attack on members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) that occurred at Bronikrom on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
At a press briefing, the Chairman of the Hwidiem Youth Association, Kwadwo Antwi, rejected allegations linking the town’s youth to the violent incident. He explained that investigations and community feedback suggest the attackers were not from Hwidiem.
“Ever since the incident happened, we have been accused, but we can confidently say that the perpetrators are not the youth of Hwidiem,” Mr. Antwi stated.
He added that some illegal miners who escaped arrest during the operation had contacted their associates from nearby communities to storm the police station and attack the security personnel. He therefore urged the public to stop blaming the Hwidiem youth for the assault.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, Bawah Sani Mohammed, revealed that the situation has created fear among residents, forcing some to flee the community over fears of possible military retaliation.
“Many people are afraid to sleep in their homes, and some have even left Hwidiem because they believe the military will come for revenge,” Mr. Mohammed said.
He emphasized that the association is willing to assist the Ghana Police Service with investigations to help identify those responsible.
According to him, the negative publicity surrounding the incident has tarnished the image of Hwidiem’s youth and the community as a whole.
Source: Sammy Asare
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