President John Dramani Mahama has stated that he will not hesitate to declare a state of emergency in illegal mining (galamsey) areas if Ghana’s National Security Council deems it necessary.
Speaking at a stakeholder dialogue with civil society organizations in Accra on Friday, October 3, the President emphasized that while he holds the constitutional power to act, such a decision must be guided by expert security assessments.
“As at now, the National Security Council believes that we can win the fight against galamsey without a state of emergency. But the day they advise me otherwise, that we need a state of emergency, I will not hesitate in declaring it,” Mahama said.
Growing Calls for a State of Emergency
Civil society groups, environmental campaigners, and religious leaders have been mounting pressure on government to declare a state of emergency in illegal mining zones.
Organizations such as the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference argue that the scale of destruction — including polluted rivers, degraded farmlands, and devastated forests — requires extraordinary measures. They warn that failure to act decisively could permanently damage water resources and threaten livelihoods in rural communities.
Current Government Strategy Against Galamsey
President Mahama, however, maintained that government’s current measures are showing results. These include:
- Deployment of additional military and police task forces.
- Equipping security agencies with modern tools and logistics.
- Increased allocation of resources to intensify monitoring and enforcement.
He assured that these interventions are beginning to make an impact.
“This is not going to be a one-off dialogue. We will continue to engage, report transparently on progress, and ensure the ministries responsible for lands and the environment deliver results,” Mahama told participants.
Protecting Ghana’s Natural Heritage
Mahama reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s environment and natural resources, stressing the importance of preserving them for future generations.
“Our forefathers handed us a beautiful country with forests, trees and rivers. We must hand over the same, not destruction, to our children and grandchildren,” he said.
The President also dismissed claims of political interest in galamsey, pledging that the fight against illegal mining will continue until meaningful and lasting progress is achieved.
