The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, Dr. Anthony Aubynn, has opposed declaring a State of Emergency to address the ongoing issue of illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
During an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, April 28, Dr. Aubynn argued that instead of declaring a state of emergency, the government should focus on leveraging existing resources and strategies to curb illegal mining activities.
While acknowledging the Mahama administration’s 2024 election pledge to declare a state of emergency on galamsey, Dr. Aubynn maintained that such a move may not be necessary.
Dr. Aubynn stressed that illegal mining is a longstanding issue, and solving it requires sustained effort and strategic action, rather than extraordinary emergency measures.
“State of emergency, I don’t know if we need that, but we should have a way of stopping illegal mining. We have all the arsenals to do that. And I think the government is doing that.
“The minister of lands and natural resources [Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah] is doing it, sometimes he becomes emotional about it because of the gravity of the things he sees. We have the resources and arsenals to reduce it in a way that people can live with,” he emphasised.
-citinewsroom
