Fear Grips Adansi Dadwen as Residents Decry Mass Arrests by Security Forces

A wave of fear has swept through the Adansi Dadwen community in the Adansi North District following what residents describe as a night of unlawful arrests and heavy-handed operations carried out by a combined team of police and military officers on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Local groups, led by the Concerned Citizens of Dadwen, allege that security personnel stormed the community and rounded up close to 350 people, including teenagers, before transporting them to undisclosed locations. According to residents, the town has been left without its adult male population, plunging families into anxiety and confusion. Some parents say even underage children were taken away, with their whereabouts still unknown.

At a press briefing on Thursday, community representatives firmly refuted claims linking Dadwen to illegal mining activities. They insisted that the town is known for its farming and trading, not galamsey.

“As a community, we reject these false accusations. Dadwen is innocent, and the narrative portraying us as a galamsey hub is completely inaccurate,” the group said.

Residents are demanding the immediate release of all detainees, medical attention for those allegedly assaulted, compensation for damages, and a formal apology from the state.

Sources familiar with the situation suggest the raid may have been triggered by flawed intelligence. Security officers were reportedly deployed for an operation in Hwediem in the Ahafo Region but ended up descending on Dadwen instead.

The community has appealed to the government, human rights groups, the media, and civil society organisations to step in and ensure justice is served and calm restored.