Bagbin Condemns MPs’ Alleged Involvement in Attack on NAIMOS Taskforce

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has strongly condemned the alleged involvement of two Members of Parliament in an attack on officials from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), insisting that Parliament will not shield any lawmaker found guilty of wrongdoing.

The two MPs in question, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, representing Asutifi North, and Collins Dauda, the MP for Asutifi South, have been accused of participating in or inciting an assault on a NAIMOS taskforce that was conducting an anti-galamsey operation in Hwediem.

Addressing the House on Tuesday, Bagbin expressed deep concern over the incident, calling it both “disturbing and unacceptable,” particularly because it involves lawmakers who are expected to uphold justice and the rule of law. “The report of an attack on a team from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, a task force established to combat illegal mining, is most worrying,” he said. “Even more troubling is the claim that the assault was incited by one of our own, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, who allegedly involved Honourable Collins Dauda in the matter.”

The Speaker stated that Parliament had not yet received a full briefing from the appropriate authorities but assured that due process would be followed. “I wish to make it clear that I condemn, without reservation, the attack on the team of officers assigned to combat illegal mining,” Bagbin emphasized. “I have instructed the Office of the Clerk and the Legal Services Office to assist the Ghana Police Service in its investigations, in accordance with the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.”

He further warned that the institution of Parliament will not tolerate actions that bring its image into disrepute, stressing that any MP found culpable will face the full force of the law.

Bagbin’s comments come amid public outrage over what many see as increasing political interference in Ghana’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, an activity that continues to devastate farmlands, pollute rivers, and endanger lives across several regions. The Speaker’s remarks signal a firm institutional stance against any attempt to undermine the work of state agencies enforcing environmental laws.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin also expressed disappointment in the alleged misconduct and called for bipartisan action in addressing the galamsey menace. “Mr. Speaker, can we, as leaders, for once agree to abandon the partisan lens and confront this problem as a national priority?” he said. “Our citizens must see that we are serious about protecting the environment and our shared future.”

He further warned against politicising environmental issues, saying it would only harm the nation’s democracy and sustainability efforts. “The fight against illegal mining should not be an NDC or NPP affair. We cannot ignore wrongdoing because of votes, such thinking only leads to destruction, not progress.”

Civil society organisations, environmental activists, and several members of the public have also condemned the attack, describing it as an affront to Ghana’s environmental governance efforts. Pressure continues to mount on law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is served without political interference.

According to sources close to the investigation, the Ghana Police Service has begun gathering evidence on the incident, while the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry, in collaboration with the Interior Ministry and NAIMOS leadership, has pledged full cooperation in the ongoing probe.

The controversy follows months of heightened tension surrounding the government’s renewed anti-galamsey operations, which have seen several illegal mining sites shut down and arrests made across various districts. The alleged involvement of legislators in obstructing such efforts has further deepened public frustration and reignited calls for stricter accountability among political leaders.

As the investigation unfolds, Speaker Bagbin has reiterated his commitment to ensuring transparency and discipline within the legislative arm of government. “This Parliament will not protect any Member who brings its name into disrepute or undermines the laws of the Republic,” he declared.

The incident at Hwediem has once again placed the spotlight on the complex relationship between politics, local authority, and the lucrative but destructive illegal mining industry, a challenge that continues to test Ghana’s environmental integrity and institutional strength.

Speaker Bagbin Appointed to Global Taskforce on Russia-Ukraine War Resolution