MCE’s Son, 7 Others Arrested …Over Gold Theft and False National Security Identity

Drama unfolded in the Assin Awisam community in the Central Region as Police grabbed eight suspects, including the son of a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), for allegedly posing as National Security operatives to terrorise and rob illegal miners.

According to an eyewitness, the suspects arrived in the community last Friday in a black Mitsubishi pickup (GS 8293-18) and a Toyota Voxy.

They reportedly seized gold, cash, and mobile phones from miners who were caught off guard.

Their actions sparked outrage among residents, who confronted the group and deflated the tyres of their vehicles.

The situation nearly turned violent, with some residents attempting to lynch the suspects before local leaders intervened and handed them over to the police.

The arrests triggered further unrest, as angry youth surrounded the local police station demanding justice. Police were forced to call for reinforcements, and the suspects were later transferred to Assin Foso under heavy security.

During interrogation, the suspects are said to have admitted taking mobile phones but denied stealing gold.

Speaking to Citi News, a local youth leader, George Anokye, claimed this was not an isolated incident. He alleged that the group had been posing as state security personnel for months, extorting money from miners in the area.

“This is not the first time individuals pretending to be security officials have targeted miners here,” he said. “They have been harassing them for months. Late last year, they allegedly took GHS 120,000 from a miner known as Seidu and even set his water pumping machine on fire when he failed to meet their demands.”

Residents are now urging the government to crack down on individuals impersonating national security or anti-galamsey officers, warning that failure to act swiftly could lead to unrest in the community.