Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has urged restraint in calls for the declaration of a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, stressing that such action must not be rushed.
Amid mounting pressure from environmental groups and civil society organisations alarmed by the continued destruction of forest reserves and water bodies due to galamsey, Gbande emphasised that government is already employing tactical and targeted responses to address the issue.
“We shouldn’t be so quick to call for a state of emergency. This is not something you simply impose. Look at the situation today, forest reserves have effectively become no-go areas. We have witnessed calculated, precise military operations targeting these hotspots. The evidence is clear: many of these forest reserves are being reclaimed,” he said.
Gbande, who also serves as Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), defended the current administration’s anti-galamsey strategy, insisting that institutions tasked with fighting illegal mining are working with increased efficiency and oversight.
“We are making sure that the responsible institutions are not only functioning but operating more effectively than ever before. Would you say we are doing nothing? Should we suddenly declare a state of emergency now, when the cedi is stabilising and the economy is showing signs of revival largely thanks to gold regulations?”
He noted that while illegal mining remains a national concern, the response must be carefully measured and legally sound to ensure lasting results. Gbande argued that focusing on enforcement and institutional reforms would yield better outcomes than reactionary measures.
“The government has made it absolutely clear that anyone involved in illegal mining will face the full force of the law. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to expose those, both within and outside government, who have engaged in or supported illegal mining. This is a matter we must handle with tact,” he added in an interview with Joy News on Monday, June 23.
His comments come as debate intensifies over how best to confront the escalating environmental threat posed by illegal mining across Ghana’s mineral-rich regions.
