Former Attorney General and Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has raised concerns over recent anti-galamsey operations in Ghana, alleging that military and police actions resulted in unlawful and discriminatory treatment of ordinary citizens.
Amidu highlighted three major incidents in the first week of November 2025. The first occurred on 1 November at Bronikrom and Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region, involving the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and local youth.
Members of Parliament for Asutifi North and South were alleged to have incited the youth against NAIMOS officials.
The second confrontation happened on 4 November at Ehi in the Volta Region, where police reportedly clashed with youths over the refusal to hand over a suspected murderer.
The third took place on 6 November in Dadwene, Obuasi, and Anwona in the Ashanti Region, involving Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staff and local youth, which resulted in injuries to accompanying journalists during a head-on collision.
Amidu noted that, in each case, the Ghana Police Service, under IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, issued operational directives for investigations.
“The necessity for joint military and police operations in domestic law enforcement did not, therefore, arise as part of the IGP’s constitutional responsibilities,” Amidu said.
He emphasized that despite clear police directives and ongoing investigations, Ghanaians were shocked on 12 November to videos showing military and police brutalities and arrests of innocent citizens.
“The IGP had to explain the rationale behind the mayhem to give a semblance of compliance with his constitutional mandate,” Amidu added.
