President John Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama says he will only declare a state of emergency based on advice from the National Security Council, as his administration intensifies efforts to combat illegal mining activities across the country.
Speaking during a dialogue with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and religious leaders at the Jubilee House last Friday, President Mahama stated that although the Constitution empowers him to declare a state of emergency, such a decision must be guided by expert security and policy assessments.
“I have the power to do it, but the President acts not only on authority, but also on the advice of the National Security Council. As at now, the Council believes we can win the fight against galamsey without declaring a state of emergency. But the day they advise me otherwise – that we now need one – I will not hesitate to declare it,” he explained.
The President’s comments come amid renewed calls from civil society, religious leaders, and environmental advocates for stronger government action to address the growing threat of illegal mining, which has devastated water bodies, destroyed farmlands, and endangered livelihoods in several mining communities.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare, urged the President to establish clear benchmarks that would trigger the declaration of a state of emergency if the crisis deepens.
“Where we have gotten to now, we have to take a decisive decision on whether we are going to tolerate illegal mining activities or not,” Bishop Asare said.
“We urge Your Excellency to provide clear indicators that would justify a state of emergency, ensure visible prosecution of offenders, including those named in official reports, and consider establishing Fast-Track Courts to handle related cases,” he added.
However, not all experts agree with the calls for a state of emergency. A security analyst, Colonel (Rtd.) Boakye, cautioned that such a measure might not be necessary at this stage, arguing that with enhanced enforcement and coordination among state agencies, the government can make significant progress without invoking emergency powers.
President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to ending illegal mining and called for collective national effort in tackling the issue.
In a message shared later on his social media platforms, he urged citizens and stakeholders to remain vigilant and to hold his administration accountable.
“In my meeting with Civil Society Organisations today, I reaffirmed my administration’s commitment to ending illegal mining. I made it clear that I am determined to win the fight, but I cannot do it alone. We need every Ghanaian – CSOs, activists, and traditional leaders – to join us in this battle,” he said.
He added that the government’s ongoing deployment of security personnel and allocation of additional resources to affected areas would soon begin to yield results.
“Our forefathers inherited a beautiful country blessed with lush forests and pristine rivers. We have a sacred duty to preserve this heritage for our children and grandchildren. We cannot, and will not, hand them poisoned water bodies and destroyed forests,” he stated.
By Ernest Kofi Adu