State of Emergency ‘not yet necessary’ in galamsey fight – Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama says his administration is not in a hurry to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, stressing that existing laws already give government sufficient authority to tackle the menace.
Addressing journalists at a media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the President acknowledged the growing public calls for tougher action against illegal mining, but cautioned against rushing into measures that could have far-reaching implications.
“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 stressed that a declaration of a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort, while reiterating his administration’s commitment to rigorously enforcing existing mining and environmental regulations.
“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,” the President added.
