Court Bars Asutifi North MP from Leaving G/A Region Over Alleged Attack on NAIMOS Task Force
An Accra High Court has restricted the movement of Asutifi North Member of Parliament, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, preventing him from leaving the Greater Accra Region as investigations continue into his alleged involvement in an attack on officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
The directive, issued on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, follows the MP’s alleged role in coordinating or supporting a violent assault on the NAIMOS task force during a sanctioned anti-galamsey operation near Bronikrom, Hwediem, in the Ahafo Region. The court’s ruling forms part of interim measures to ensure the MP remains available for questioning and legal proceedings as the case develops.
According to court sources, prosecutors argued that there was a strong public interest in ensuring accountability, particularly given the gravity of the offence and the national importance of the anti-illegal mining campaign. The court, presided over by Justice Theodora Ofori, ruled that allowing the accused legislator to travel outside the capital could jeopardize investigations or lead to interference with witnesses.
The MP, who appeared in court alongside his legal counsel, has not yet entered a plea. His lawyers requested leniency, claiming the allegations were politically motivated and based on unverified reports from the field. However, the prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Emmanuel Kusi, maintained that multiple eyewitness statements, including those from members of the security detail and NAIMOS officials, linked the MP directly to the incident.
The court subsequently ordered that Mr. Addo surrender his passport and report twice weekly to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters until further notice. A formal bail hearing is expected later this week.
The alleged attack, which occurred late last month, has sparked widespread outrage after reports emerged that members of the NAIMOS task force, a special unit established to coordinate national anti-galamsey efforts, were physically assaulted and had their equipment vandalized while attempting to dismantle illegal mining sites in the area.
Earlier this week, Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin condemned the attack and warned that Parliament would not shield any MP found guilty of wrongdoing. “We will not protect any member of this House who violates the law or brings Parliament into disrepute,” the Speaker declared during a plenary session, stressing Parliament’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Interior Minister Henry Quartey and Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah have also met with the Speaker to coordinate an inter-ministerial investigation into the matter. The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the Ghana Police Service are jointly leading inquiries into the assault and the circumstances surrounding it.
Public reactions have been sharp and divided. Civil society organisations, including the Centre for Democratic Accountability (CDA), have commended the judiciary for acting swiftly, describing the court’s restrictions as a sign that the rule of law applies equally to all, regardless of political status. Environmental advocates, however, have expressed frustration that political interference continues to undermine the government’s efforts to curb illegal mining, which has devastated vast tracts of Ghana’s farmlands and water bodies.
“This case must not end up like many others that fade without consequence,” said Nana Owusu Akoto, coordinator of the Coalition Against Galamsey. “If an MP can attack a state task force without repercussions, then the entire anti-illegal mining campaign risks losing credibility.”
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has called for fairness and due process, urging the media and public to avoid prejudgment until investigations conclude. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin cautioned that while accountability is necessary, “no one should be convicted in the court of public opinion.”
The court adjourned the case to November 12, 2025, pending further submissions from both the prosecution and defence. Mr. Addo remains under restricted movement orders in Accra while investigations continue.
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