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Edward Tutor, Executive Convenor of the Dynamic Youth Movement of Ghana, has issued a sharp rebuke to President John Dramani Mahama for refusing to declare a state of emergency over illegal mining, accusing him of hiding behind unconstitutional advice and urging him to dismiss his advisors immediately.
Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom on Friday, October 3, Tutor challenged the President’s assertion that the National Security Council must advise on emergency declarations, describing it as a misinterpretation of the 1992 Constitution.
“We have a 1992 Constitution that regulates everything that we do in this country — including the president,” Tutor stressed. “Article 31 is clear. It is the Council of State and Parliament that the President must consult—not the National Security Council. They are completely out of the equation.”
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His comments came in response to President Mahama’s recent remarks at a stakeholder engagement in Accra, where the President said he would only declare a state of emergency on illegal mining if advised by the National Security Council. Mahama maintained that the country’s existing legal and security frameworks are sufficient to address the galamsey menace, despite growing calls for stronger action.
But Tutor dismissed the President’s stance as evasive.
“If you’re saying you’re depending on the advice of your National Security Council, that is misinformation,” he said. “The President is trying to hide behind his own National Security Council, which he chairs. This is unacceptable.”
Describing the galamsey situation as a “national emergency” that threatens Ghana’s environment, water bodies, and future, Tutor demanded decisive leadership.
“Mr President, anybody advising you not to declare a state of emergency is misleading you, ill-advising you – and you need to fire them as a matter of urgency,” he declared.
He underscored that the constitutional procedure for declaring a state of emergency is clearly outlined: the President must take the decision, consult the Council of State, and then seek approval from Parliament by a two-thirds majority.
“This is not a matter of talk anymore,” Tutor emphasised. “We have said all that needs to be said. What more do you want to hear or see?”
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