President John Dramani Mahama has stated that his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, insisting that existing laws provide sufficient authority to tackle the menace effectively. Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the President acknowledged the growing public pressure to take drastic measures against illegal mining activities but cautioned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely. “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,” President Mahama explained. “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 emphasised that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort, and reiterated his administration’s commitment to enforcing existing regulations more vigorously. “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.
No mining licence issued since I assumed office
President John Dramani Mahama has also firmly stated that his administration has not granted a single mining licence for operations within Ghana’s forest reserves since returning to office. “Let me be clear,” he said. “Since my administration resumed office, not a single licence has been issued to any company to mine in our forest reserves.” President Mahama also announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources. The President said a dedicated national task force has been deployed to tackle the menace, with significant gains already recorded. He disclosed that the task force’s operations have led to the seizure of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in illegal mining activities. According to him, the disruption of these networks marks a decisive step toward protecting water bodies and restoring degraded lands.