President John Dramani Mahama has stated that his administration is not rushing to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
During a media encounter in Accra, President Mahama insisted that existing laws provide sufficient authority to tackle the menace effectively. He acknowledged the growing public pressure for drastic measures but cautioned against a premature state of emergency.
“I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency,” he explained.
The President emphasized that a state of emergency should be a last resort and reiterated his government’s commitment to enforcing current regulations more vigorously, noting that existing laws already grant the authority to arrest individuals and confiscate equipment.
President Mahama also took the opportunity to state that his administration has not granted a single mining license for operations within Ghana’s forest reserves since he assumed office. He said, “Since my administration resumed office, not a single licence has been issued to any company to mine in our forest reserves.”
He also announced that a dedicated national task force has been deployed to combat illegal mining, which has already led to the seizure of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment. These efforts, he added, are a decisive step toward protecting Ghana’s water bodies and restoring degraded lands.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
