The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has condemned the recent attack on officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the accompanying media personnel by a group of illegal miners at Dadwene, a community near Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.
Reports indicate that the convoy of the EPA team was initially attacked by the illegal miners. The severity of the attack reportedly forced the EPA team and the accompanying media personnel to retreat.
On their way they were involved in an accident at Afari, following a violent encounter with illegal miners near Obuasi. The subsequent accident has left several people injured. Among the journalists involved was Ibrahim Abubakar, the Ashanti Regional Correspondent of Media General, but he is fine.
At a press conference on Friday, November 7, 2025, Director of Communications at the Ministry, Mawusi Mawuenyefia described the attack as “unfortunate”, noting that the ministry remains resolute and will deal with the matter.
“This incident is unfortunate. Again, Honourable Armah-Kofi Buah who doubles as Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology wishes to convey his utmost disappointment at this turn of event and this incident.
“He wishes to make it clear that he remains resolute and unperturbed in his resolve to deal with illegal mining,” she stated.
She reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s lands and water bodies.
“We wish to make it clear that Government’s commitment to protect our lands, government’s commitment to protect our water bodies, government’s commitment to protect the sanctity of our environment remains unwavering, devoid of political polarization, devoid of social, traditional status.
“If you are found culpable, you will not be let go. We are not going to sit aloof and watch and allow our environment to be destroyed in the name of mining,” she stressed.
This comes after the Environmental Protection Agency was attacked by illegal miners at Obuasi leading to a head-on collision of their vehicle with another truck leading to injury of a number of journalists and officials.
