President John Dramani Mahama has explained why his government has been hesitant to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Addressing journalists at a media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the President said existing laws already provide enough authority to clamp down on illegal mining activities, making an emergency declaration unnecessary at this stage.
“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 it,” he said. “We can arrest offenders, confiscate equipment, and apply forest protection laws which already give us strong legal backing.”
Mr. Mahama stressed that while a state of emergency may appear to be a bold move, it should remain a measure of last resort. “Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the extreme option. For now, let’s exercise all the powers we already have, and if it becomes necessary, we’ll look at it,” he added.
He also explained that declaring a state of emergency would require parliamentary involvement and the careful delineation of affected areas, which could complicate enforcement.
“If you look at the areas where galamsey is taking place, they cover several districts across the country. That makes it more complex,” the President noted. “We still have leverage to continue fighting galamsey without necessarily going down that route.”
Prez. Mahama emphasized that security agencies have been empowered to deal decisively with individuals and groups engaged in illegal mining, stressing that his administration remains committed to tackling the menace within the scope of the law.
“For now, I think that we’re giving the security services enough powers to be able to deal with people who are found to be involved in Galamsey,” he concluded.
