Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the spokesperson for the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), has defended the task force following the deaths of three people during a clash at Manso Keniago in the Ashanti Region.
According to Paa Kwesi Schandorf, NAIMOS personnel were forced to defend themselves after a mob was hell-bent on attacking them during an operation in the area.
He argued that the deaths of three people during a clash at Manso Keniago resulted from an act of self-defence by the task force.
Paa Kwesi Schandorf revealed that NAIMOS initially fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd and de-escalate the situation; however, the group remained determined to attack the personnel, forcing them to respond in self-defence.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Upfront on November 11, 2026, Schandorf stated, The task force initially fired warning shots to disperse them, to de-escalate the situation, but they were determined, hell-bent and insistent on exacting on the NAIMOS task force.
And that is what compelled NAIMOS, under the circumstances, in the interest of self-defence, to deter them. That is how come three, unfortunately, have lost their lives. Two NAIMOS personnel, as we speak, are currently injured”.
Schandorf disclosed that the two injured NAIMOS personnel were receiving medical treatment following the confrontation.
He stressed that the task force resorted to force in response to the alleged attack on its personnel.
His comment comes on the heels of three people reportedly being shot dead following a violent clash between personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and residents of Manso Kaniago, also known as Dome Keniago, in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, reportedly broke out after some residents and suspected illegal miners attempted to prevent NAIMOS personnel from seizing excavators in the community.
Reports indicate that tensions escalated after the task force came under attack from an armed group, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to several civilians.
Reports suggest two NAIMOS officers sustained gunshot wounds, while another person is said to have undergone an amputation following the incident.
An eyewitness who spoke to OTEC News reporter Kwame Agyenim Boateng said the confrontation began after the military personnel seized an excavator and attempted to move it along a tarred road.
“The military men, after seizing the excavator, were moving it on the tarred road, a process that could destroy the roads, so some chiefs and residents asked them to rather transport the excavator with a low-bed machine,” the eyewitness said.
According to the eyewitness, the suggestion was rejected by the officers, leading to an exchange of words that eventually escalated into gunfire.
“The suggestion did not sit well with the military men, leading to altercations. The military men started firing warning shots.”
“Several others caught bullets, with two dying in the process,” the eyewitness added.
The Assembly Member for the area, Hon. Charles Oduro, also confirmed that gunshots were fired multiple times during the confrontation but said he could not independently verify the number of casualties.
He disclosed that the intensity of the gunfire had prevented him from leaving his home for fear of being caught in the violence.
“They were firing guns indiscriminately, and so going out was very risky,” Hon. Oduro said.
“My people had called me telling me about the deaths and injuries, but I am yet to go out to confirm.”
He added that the incident had thrown the community into confusion, forcing several residents to flee their homes to protect their lives.
A heartwarming display of religious tolerance and unity as Muslims are seen praying at the entrance of a Pentecost Church in Daboya, Ghana, highlighting peaceful coexistence between people of different faiths. #GHnow https://t.co/0odmIjHoug
— GHnow (@ghnow_) November 11, 2026
