President John Dramani Mahama has rejected claims that he intends to impose a state of emergency to combat illegal mining, popularly called galamsey.
Addressing Ghanaians in New York on Friday, September 25, President Mahama insisted he had never made such a pledge, stressing that the option should only be considered when all else fails.
“They said I said a state of emergency. I never ever said that. I never ever said I’ll declare a state of emergency,” President Mahama said.
He noted that although a state of emergency could help resolve major national problems, it is usually short-lived and often involves curtailing some freedoms.
President Mahama doubted whether the approach would work against illegal mining, pointing out that the menace has spread to 10 regions nationwide.
“But states of emergency are useful, but you declare them as a last resort. If you declare a state of emergency, you normally declare it in an isolated area and you deal with the issue. “You concentrate all your energy there, deal with the issue, and you finish it, and you lift the state of emergency,” he added.
President Mahama said the state already possesses adequate authority to confront illegal miners and is rolling out focused interventions in known galamsey zones.
He admitted the battle is difficult but reaffirmed government’s resolve to fight illegal mining and reduce its harm to the environment and local communities.
