BY Daniel Bampoe
President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, insisting that such a measure remains unnecessary at this stage.
Speaking at his first media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, nine months into his second term, President Mahama said his administration still has sufficient legal tools to combat the menace without invoking extraordinary powers
Galamsey And National Concern
Illegal mining has long plagued the environment, particularly water bodies and forest reserves.
While the activity provides livelihoods for many Ghanaians, it has also been linked to land degradation, water pollution, and violent clashes between security forces and miners.
Previous governments, including that of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, faced intense public pressure to crack down on the practice, with some critics calling for emergency powers to be used to halt its spread.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), then in opposition, had previously criticized Akufo-Addo for refusing to declare a state of emergency at the height of the galamsey crisis.
At the time, the NDC argued that all other measures had been exhausted and drastic steps were necessary.
Mahama’s Position
Addressing journalists, President Mahama stressed that his administration has not yet reached that point.
“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,” he said.
“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 further explained that declaring a state of emergency is a drastic measure that should only be considered as a last resort.
“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. For now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary, then we will look at it,” the President added.
Balancing Livelihoods And Law Enforcement
President Mahama also acknowledged the delicate balance between protecting the environment and safeguarding livelihoods.
According to him, over four million Ghanaians depend directly or indirectly on small-scale mining for survival, making the issue both an economic and social challenge.
His comments come at a time when environmental activists, civil society groups, and traditional leaders have been urging government to adopt tougher measures to save Ghana’s water bodies and forests from destruction.
A Political Turnaround
Mahama’s current stance has also triggered political debate, given that members of his own party once pressured the previous government to adopt the very measure he is now ruling out.
Critics have described the shift as contradictory, while government officials argue that the dynamics of the fight against galamsey require a careful and phased approach rather than reactionary decisions.
Looking Ahead
The President reiterated his commitment to intensifying enforcement of existing laws, reclaiming destroyed lands, and regulating artisanal mining to ensure that it benefits local communities without destroying the environment.
