The Spokesperson for the Progressive Small-Scale Miners Association, Philip Bawa has challenged the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat’s (NAIMOS) account of the Manso Keniago incident, disputing its characterisation of residents as “an armed mob.”
In an interview, Mr Bawa indicated that he has spoken personally with the town’s chief, whose account, according to him, differs from the version contained in the NAIMOS statement. The association intends to visit the community to verify the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and establish whether those involved include its members.
“What happened is basically the disagreement of the chief and his people protecting state property, being the access road that has been tiled, and the military or the security agencies trying to track the excavator on the tar road by destroying it.”
Philip Bawa
The spokesperson disputed the suggestion that residents mobilised as an armed group to prevent personnel of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat from carrying out their duties. He insisted that the community’s objection concerns the manner in which the excavator was being transported, not an attempt to prevent its removal from the area.
“This is about the third time or so,” he disclosed, explaining that operations of a similar nature has previously taken place in the community. He therefore questioned why the latest encounter has been presented as an incident in which residents deliberately obstructed a lawful operation.
Nevertheless, Mr Bawa acknowledged that the association could not yet establish whether the people involved were its members. He suspected that some miners in the community might belong to the organisation, but identified the chief as the person who principally initiated the resistance to the excavator’s movement.
He equally declined to confirm whether the impounded machine has been used for illegal mining, explaining that the association would investigate that aspect during its planned visit. His position, however, is that the circumstances surrounding the alleged illegal mining activity should not eclipse the separate question of whether state property had been endangered during the operation.
In challenging NAIMOS to substantiate its account, Mr Bawa questioned whether the agency could produce footage showing residents carrying weapons or firing at its personnel. He also queried whether the excavator has been transported on a low-bed trailer, insisting that the available videos showed it moving directly on the road.
The association’s spokesperson emphasised that the public needs a complete account of the incident, including the circumstances that triggered the disagreement. He indicated that the planned verification exercise would help establish the sequence of events and determine whether the official account accurately represented the conduct of the residents.
Manso Keniago Clash: Miners Demand Security Taskforce Withdrawal
Beyond the disputed accounts of the Manso Keniago confrontation, the Spokesperson for the Progressive Small-Scale Miners Association, Philip Bawa also called for an investigation into the activities of NAIMOS, particularly in view of previous incidents involving shootings and fatalities.
He alleged that some personnel were pursuing private interests under the guise of operations intended to combat illegal mining.
“We are calling on the president, as a matter of urgency, to withdraw them and institute an independent investigation at which body we are prepared to present evidence of corruption and massive destruction.”
Philip Bawa
Mr Bawa insisted that the association is prepared to submit evidence to an independent investigative body to substantiate its allegations.
In addition, Mr Bawa expressed apprehension about the possibility of further casualties if the conduct of security taskforces remains unchecked. He referred to previous incidents in Himan and the Western Region, where shootings and killings have occurred, warning that similar developments should not be allowed to recur.
“No, but four people have been killed and over 30 people have been injured,” he disclosed during the interview, drawing attention to the fatalities and injuries he associated with the incidents under discussion. He called for the competing accounts to be examined carefully so that the Manso Keniago confrontation would not be reduced to a one-sided narrative.
The spokesperson further indicated that the association has already held a press conference to call for the withdrawal of the security operations. He questioned whether the taskforces are still serving the interests of small-scale miners and the national campaign against illegal mining, given the “misconduct by some personnel.”
Meanwhile, Mr Bawa confirmed that representatives of the association intend to visit Manso Keniago to engage the chief and residents and verify the available accounts. He emphasised that the findings from that exercise would help establish what transpired before the association presents its evidence to the proposed investigative body.
He reiterated that the President needs to act with urgency by withdrawing the taskforces and ensuring an independent examination of their operations.
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