The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas most affected by illegal mining.
According to the group, such a move is necessary to protect the country’s environment from the devastating effects of galamsey.
“We are not calling for a nationwide state of emergency. The Constitution allows for a state of emergency in specific parts of the country, and that’s what we are demanding,” said Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, lead convener of the coalition, at a press conference on Thursday, June 19.
The group also petitioned the President to order investigations and possible prosecutions of some National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives believed to be involved in illegal mining activities.
They cited Oscar Ofori Larbi, the Member of Parliament for Aowin, and constituency chairmen of the NDC in Axim and Dunkwa as key individuals allegedly complicit in galamsey.
Meanwhile, the Media Relations Officer at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Paa Kwasi Schandorf, says declaring a state of emergency to fight illegal mining, also known as galamsey, would be ineffective without clear and practical policies to back it.
According to him, while such a declaration may signal seriousness, it risks becoming symbolic if not supported by well-structured implementation frameworks.
Speaking on Accra-based GHOne TV on Wednesday, June 18, Mr. Schandorf likened the situation to someone making a public pledge to change without taking real steps to follow through.
“It is going to send a very strong signal. But if the policies on the ground are not being practically implemented, what are you doing? Of course, it would appear as though you are mounting a very vicious and non-negotiable fight, but beyond that, if you don’t have a properly structured policy mechanism to deal with the issue—like the five-prong approach that the Minister has employed—then where are we going?” he asked.
