NAIMOS officer dies in Obuasi accident

A NAIMOS officer has died after a task force vehicle crashed on the Anyankyerim–Airport Road stretch in the Obuasi Municipality late Wednesday, leaving three others in critical condition.

The team was returning from an operation at a Mining and Construction Services Limited concession in Anyankyerim, a site that has recently become a hotspot due to a surge in illegal mining activity.

Officers had been deployed to restore order after miners claimed the concession had been allocated to them by the previous NDC administration.

Some of the miners, according to media reports, are allegedly receiving backing from politically connected individuals.

One of those figures, Alhaji Zamba, the NDC Vice Chairman for Obuasi West, has appeared in a widely circulated video asserting that the concession belongs to him.

His claim has intensified tensions around the area, drawing renewed scrutiny from security agencies.

Eyewitnesses said the NAIMOS vehicle somersaulted multiple times while the team made its way back from the operation, prompting a swift rescue effort.

The injured officers were first taken to the Obuasi Government Hospital before being transferred to the Anglogold Ashanti Hospital for specialised care.

In a statement posted on X, Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene called the development a “tragic loss” and sent his sympathies to the bereaved family.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased during this difficult moment. Their loss is a loss to the region, and we stand with them in prayer and solidarity,” he wrote.

He added that the Regional Security Council, together with municipal authorities, is coordinating with health and security agencies to ensure the injured officers receive the best possible treatment.

“The matter is being investigated to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and to guide the necessary interventions. The safety and well-being of all personnel engaged in national assignments remain a priority,” he noted.

Dr Amoakohene also stressed that the Ashanti Region “stands united in support of the affected officers, their families, and the entire NAIMOS team.”

Award-winning Joy News journalist and anti-galamsey advocate Erastus Asare Donkor expressed concern in a Facebook post, writing, “My condolences to NAIMOS!! Accident at Obuasi!! One dead, three in critical condition!! Sad day.”