Review NAIMOS operations or risk sending NDC back to opposition – Amoakohene

Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene has warned that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) must review its operations or risk undermining the NDC’s political fortunes and sending the party back into opposition.

He said the government’s approach to the fight against illegal mining needed to be carefully examined, particularly following the deaths recorded during a confrontation between NAIMOS personnel and residents of Manso Keniago in the Ashanti Region.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, November 14, 2026, Dr Amoakohene accused some political actors of encouraging the use of lethal force in the anti-galamsey campaign, only to turn around and exploit the resulting deaths for political advantage.

“They will push you to fight galamsey with lethal force, then turn around to make political gains out of it. These are the same people who are calling for a state of emergency,” he said.

His comments followed remarks by the New Patriotic Party’s Director of Communications, Miracles Aboagye, who called on the State to account for the six deaths recorded at Manso Keniago during the NAIMOS operation.

Mr Aboagye had demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding each death, arguing that the victims should not all be presumed to have been illegal miners or members of a group that confronted the task force.

Dr Amoakohene, however, argued that NAIMOS’s operations needed review to prevent the anti-galamsey campaign from becoming a political liability for the governing party.

“NAIMOS and their operations must be reviewed before they send NDC back to opposition,” he said.

The regional minister also criticised what he described as political pressure on the government to adopt a more forceful approach to tackling illegal mining, pointing to calls for a state of emergency.

He further indicated support for concerns previously raised by NAPO and Dr Ayew Afriyie about the government’s approach to the fight against illegal mining.

“I am beginning to agree with NAPO and Dr Ayew on their remarks on the fight against illegal mining,” he said, asking social media users to share a video of the remarks in the comments section of his post.

The Manso Keniago incident occurred on November 11, 2026, during a confrontation involving NAIMOS personnel and residents over the movement of excavators seized during an anti-illegal mining operation. The reported death toll rose to six, with 15 others injured.

NAIMOS has maintained that its personnel acted in self-defence after encountering an armed group, while traditional authorities and residents have disputed aspects of the Secretariat’s account. The circumstances surrounding the deaths have prompted calls for an independent investigation.