Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has criticised the bail conditions granted to the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, following his alleged involvement in the attack on the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) task force.
The confrontation occurred between the task force and a group of youth at Bronikrom–Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, 2025, during an anti-illegal mining operation. The incident reportedly began after soldiers arrested two suspected illegal miners and seized vehicles and weapons at a mining site near Bronikrom–Hwidiem. The arrests sparked unrest among some locals, who confronted the task force, forcing police to intervene.
Mr. Addo was accused of instigating the attack on the operatives an allegation he has since denied, claiming he was only at the scene to calm tensions.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, November 8, Mr. Ahiagbah commended the government’s swift action in prosecuting the legislator but maintained that the bail terms did not reflect the seriousness of the offence. He described the bail conditions as weak and insufficient to deter future attacks on state security operations.
“There is some appreciation there, but we need to go the full hog. The bail condition given to him, for me, is paltry. It doesn’t send a strong signal because you are fighting this with force on the ground and leveraging political optics as well. The punishment must appear commensurate with the crime and the urgency with which we need to deal with the MP,” he argued.
He added that imposing tougher bail conditions would have sent a firmer message that the state remains resolute in defending the integrity of its security operations and the ongoing fight against illegal mining.
“Yes, the swiftness of the action is commendable, but an additional step was needed to send a strong signal that we put premium on this offence and won’t treat it with kid gloves. The bail condition must reflect that,” he stressed.
The Asutifi North MP, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢150,000 by an Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, after being charged with assault on a public officer, unlawful damage, and rioting with weapons.
As part of his bail conditions, the court barred him from leaving the Greater Accra Region without notifying investigators and ordered him to report to them once every two weeks. The court further cautioned him against any conduct that could obstruct ongoing investigations.