President John Dramani Mahama has ruled out an immediate declaration of a state of emergency in the fight against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, cautioning that such a measure must remain a last resort.
Addressing journalists at the Presidential Media Encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the President acknowledged rising public calls for tougher measures but stressed that existing laws already empower the government to act decisively.
“I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency,” Mr Mahama explained.
According to him, law enforcement and regulatory agencies already possess sufficient authority to arrest offenders, confiscate equipment, and enforce forest protection regulations.
“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act,” he said.
The President cautioned against rushing into a declaration, noting that while it might sound appealing, such a drastic measure could have unintended consequences.
“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.
Mr Mahama reiterated his administration’s commitment to using existing legal and institutional frameworks to curb the menace, while leaving the option of a state of emergency open should current measures prove inadequate.
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