{"id":104328,"date":"2025-11-27T11:22:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T11:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=104328"},"modified":"2025-11-27T11:22:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T11:22:55","slug":"hwediem-chiefs-back-anti-galamsey-crackdown-urge-release-of-innocent-residents-arrested-in-mass-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=104328","title":{"rendered":"Hwediem chiefs back anti-galamsey crackdown, urge release of innocent residents arrested in mass operation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 18 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Traditional leaders in Hwediem have thrown their weight behind President John Mahama\u2019s renewed fight against illegal mining while calling for the immediate release of innocent residents swept up in last month\u2019s joint police\u2013military mass arrest in the Ahafo Region.<\/p>\n

The dawn security operation in Kenyasi (Asutifi North) and Hwediem (Asutifi South) followed reports that operatives of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) had been held hostage at the Hwediem Police Station. The confrontation sparked national concern about rising tensions between state-backed anti-galamsey teams and groups of unidentified youth.<\/p>\n

More than 150 people were arrested during the raids, transported to Kumasi and remanded for two weeks as investigations continued.<\/p>\n

Addressing journalists in Hwediem, the Mawerehene, Baffour Nsia-Awuah, reaffirmed the Traditional Council\u2019s commitment to the government\u2019s intensified anti-galamsey drive.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe support the President\u2019s resolve to restore discipline in our natural resource sector,\u201d he said.
\u201cIllegal mining threatens our water bodies, our security, and our collective future. The Traditional Council stands firmly with the government in this fight.<\/p>\n

\"Hwediem<\/figure>\n

He assured that the chiefs would work closely with security agencies to maintain peace and protect the environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who appeared in that viral video threatening NAIMOS personnel and returns to Hwediem will be handed over to the police without hesitation,\u201d he warned.
\u201cWe cannot allow a few individuals, many of them non-natives, to tarnish the long-standing reputation of our town.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Adontenhene, Baffour Kyei Anarfi, appealed for the release of what he described as \u201cinnocent bystanders\u201d affected by the mass arrests.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmong those detained were travellers, workers, roadside preachers, and even patients going to the hospital,\u201d he said.
\u201cWe humbly appeal to the President, as Commander-in-Chief, to ensure that innocent persons do not continue to suffer unjustly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Hwediem<\/figure>\n

He emphasised that while the community supports the crackdown, law enforcement must be conducted with fairness and discretion.<\/p>\n

Seeking to protect the town\u2019s image, the Benkumhene, Nana Asirifi Gyimah Dadeako, dismissed claims that Hwediem is becoming a security hotspot.<\/p>\n

\u201cHwediem has always been a peaceful town, welcoming traders, investors and travellers from all parts of the country, including foreign companies,\u201d he said.
\u201cThis is a district capital and a major transit route. We reject any attempt to portray our community as violent or unsafe.\u201d<\/p>\n

He encouraged businesses to remain confident in Hwediem as a safe environment for investment and commerce.<\/p>\n

Baffour Nsia-Awuah reiterated the chiefs\u2019 commitment to preventing future disturbances.
\u201cWhat happened was unlawful, unacceptable and deeply disrespectful,\u201d he said.
\u201cWe condemn it without reservation. The Traditional Council does not condone any form of unlawful behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n

He reaffirmed that the chiefs remain dedicated to promoting peace, development and respect for the rule of law in Hwediem and across the region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"HwediemA month after a joint police – military mass arrest in the Ahafo Region, traditional leaders in Hwediem are urging unity in the fight against illegal mining while appealing for the immediate release of innocent persons caught up in the mass arrests.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":104329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12989,1906,12990,1883,10,9,1907],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-104328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anti-galamsey-drive","category-hp-news-5","category-hwediem-chiefs","category-national","category-politics","category-popular","category-regional"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=104328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104328\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/104329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=104328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=104328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=104328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}