Member of Parliament for Tano North in the Ahafo Region, Dr. Gideon Boako has issued a strong condemnation of the recent military swoop and mass arrests of residents in parts of the Ahafo Region, following last week’s attack on officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In a strongly worded statement, Dr. Boako described the security operation as “unacceptable, excessive, and inconsistent with the principles of natural justice,” emphasizing that while attacks on state officials are condemnable, the response by security agencies must be measured, lawful, and respectful of fundamental human rights.
“The principle of natural justice dictates that persons must be treated as innocent until proven guilty. The operation that led to a mass arrest without proper investigation risks punishing the innocent alongside the culpable, thereby undermining public trust and creating unnecessary fear and tension within the community,” Dr. Gideon Boako stated.
The Tano North lawmaker is therefore demanding an immediate halt to what he described as a blanket arrest approach, calling on the security agencies to ensure transparent and prompt investigations to identify and prosecute only those directly involved in the attack.
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Dr. Boako also expressed concern over reports that the arrested persons have been transferred from Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region for detention, a move he says places undue hardship on the affected individuals and their families.
“This action makes access to legal representation and basic family support unnecessarily difficult. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done locally,” he added.
The MP is urging that all legal and procedural requirements regarding detention be strictly adhered to, and that the arrested persons be returned to police facilities within the Ahafo Region to ensure fair treatment.
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While appealing to residents of Hwidiem to remain calm and cooperate with investigations, Dr. Boako reiterated that violence is never the answer, cautioning that any attacks on state officials undermine efforts to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
He, however, called on the security services and government to exercise restraint, warning that “the pursuit of justice must not become an act of injustice against law-abiding citizens.
Below is a copy of the statement:
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
