Obuasi West MCE Steps In With Urgent Support After Mass Arrests in Obuasi
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Obuasi West Municipal Assembly, Faustilove Appian Kannin, has moved swiftly to provide emergency relief for hundreds of residents arrested during a dramatic dawn swoop by a joint police–military team last Wednesday.
Working in collaboration with assembly members and the Fomena District Chief Executive, the Assembly supplied food, water, and other essential items to the detainees at the Kumasi Central Prison to ensure their welfare as investigations continue.
According to Madam Kannin, the swoop—carried out across four communities—was triggered by agitations against officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), as well as police and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) personnel conducting anti-galamsey operations in the area.
She explained that while the security operation was meant to restore order and protect state officials, preliminary assessments suggest that some individuals who had no involvement in the disturbances might have been arrested in the process. In response, the Assembly has engaged the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, to facilitate the release of residents believed to have been wrongly detained.
The MCE emphasized that the Assembly’s priority is to ensure fairness and protect innocent residents while supporting the security services to maintain peace in Obuasi. She assured families of the detainees that the Assembly is working tirelessly to verify the identities of the arrested individuals and advocate for those unjustly affected.
Hon. Kannin further noted that additional social welfare officers have been deployed to assist families seeking information about their relatives, adding that the Assembly is committed to providing continuous support throughout the investigation period.
She urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with the authorities, and avoid acts that could inflame tensions or disrupt ongoing security operations.
The Assembly, she said, will continue to engage stakeholders, including chiefs, community leaders, and security agencies, to ensure a peaceful resolution and to prevent future incidents that threaten public safety.
