The Tafo and Atasemanso Circuit Courts have remanded 136 individuals into prison custody following a joint police–military operation carried out in response to attacks on personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The arrests formed part of a large-scale security operation in the Ahafo Region, during which 486 suspects were picked up. After a thorough screening process, 136 were deemed fit for prosecution and subsequently arraigned. They are expected to reappear before the court on November 28, 2025.
During the screening, several groups were released on enquiry bail. These included passengers who were ordered out of vehicles during the swoop and were able to verify their travel tickets, as well as juveniles, students, teachers, nurses, and other identifiable professionals who were arrested from their homes without direct links to the disturbances.
Security officials also confirmed the arrest of 21 foreign nationals who were intercepted while travelling. They remain in custody and will be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for further investigation and processing.
Following the remand order, the police indicated that congestion at the Kumasi Central Prisons has made it necessary to transfer 132 of the accused persons to the Sunyani Central Prisons. Arrangements are currently in place to transport them under heavy escort using two Black Maria vehicles.
The mass arrests were part of a coordinated special dawn operation conducted last Wednesday across the Ashanti, Ahafo, and Volta regions. The security sweep covered Dadwene, Obuasi, and Anwona in the Ashanti Region; Ehi in the Volta Region; and Hwediem, Kenyase, Goaso, and Maharni in the Ahafo Region.
Authorities confirmed that all suspects currently in custody are male, and investigations into the attacks on NAIMOS and EPA officials are still ongoing.
