The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in the Wassa West area has condemned what it described as the brutal assault of a headteacher and three other civilians by military personnel from the 2BN Barracks at Apremdo in the Western Region.

Addressing the media at a press conference, the Wassa West Vice-Chairman of GNAT, Mr Daniel Mensah, said the incident occurred at Adiewoso in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality following tensions linked to illegal mining activities within a rubber plantation belonging to Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) at Agona Nkwanta.

According to him, soldiers were initially deployed on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, to halt illegal mining activities in the GREL plantation near the community.

The operation reportedly led to a confrontation between the military and some suspected illegal miners before the soldiers withdrew.

However, residents were later shocked when military personnel allegedly returned to the town in the early hours of Thursday, April 30, and subjected several residents, particularly young men, to severe beatings and other forms of molestation.

Mr Mensah stated that three teachers from Adiewoso M/A Basic School, including the headteacher, Mr Ansah Acheampong, and the husband of one of the female teachers, were among those allegedly assaulted.

He explained that, despite identifying themselves as teachers and presenting their GNAT identity cards, the military personnel allegedly ignored their pleas and assaulted them.

"On Thursday, April 30, after two days they came back our sisters and brothers were in the town and the soldiers came there and any man that they'll meet they tried to flog the person.

"This made them entered teacher's bungalow which the teachers disclosed themselves that they're teachers which showed their ID card to them just to respect and leave them.

"Which the soldiers did not listen to them but all that they were saying was they're the people to help fight the galamsey.

"Due to that they asked the Headmaster to laid down with guns on him and soldiers did not respect him to flogged him at his with marks on his back," he explained.

GNAT described the alleged actions of the soldiers as unfortunate, inhumane and barbaric, stressing that innocent professionals should not suffer because of the activities of illegal miners in the community.

The association maintained that, while GREL has the right to protect its concession from destruction through legal means and security support, innocent residents and teachers must not become victims of military operations.

GNAT therefore called on the Interior Minister, the Chief of the Army Staff, the Western Regional Coordinating Council, the Police Service and the management of GREL to collaborate and conduct a full investigation into the incident to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

The association also commended the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Issah Taylor, the Municipal Chief Executive, Ebenezer Cobbinah, and the Municipal Director of Education, Ms Catherine Andoh Mensah, for visiting the affected teachers and showing support.