President John Dramani Mahama has signaled his readiness to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, if advised by Ghana’s National Security Council.
Addressing a stakeholder dialogue with civil society groups in Accra on Friday, the president emphasized that while the Constitution empowers him to take such a step, the decision must be grounded in security assessments.
“As at now, the National Security Council believes that we can win the fight against galamsey without a state of emergency. But the day they advise me otherwise, that we need a state of emergency, I will not hesitate in declaring it,” Mr Mahama said.
His remarks come amid growing pressure from civil society organisations, environmental advocates and religious leaders who have urged government to impose emergency measures in mining zones. They argue that the scale of environmental destruction — from polluted rivers to degraded forests — demands extraordinary intervention.
In recent months, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and several CSOs have warned that failure to act decisively could permanently damage water resources and undermine rural livelihoods.
Mr Mahama, however, maintained that the government’s current strategy is beginning to show results. He cited the deployment of additional troops, better-equipped joint task forces and increased resources as evidence of progress.
He also called on civil society to sustain its advocacy, stressing that public pressure was vital in holding ministries and agencies accountable.
“This is not going to be a one-off dialogue. We will continue to engage, report transparently on progress, and ensure the ministries responsible for lands and the environment deliver results,” he assured.
The president reiterated his commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s natural heritage, warning against leaving behind “poisoned rivers and desecrated forests” for future generations.
“Our forefathers handed us a beautiful country with forests, trees and rivers. We must hand over the same, not destruction, to our children and grandchildren,” he said.
Mr Mahama further stressed that he has no personal stake in galamsey and pledged that the government’s campaign would continue until meaningful progress is achieved.
Leave a Reply