President John Mahama has dismissed growing calls for a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, arguing that Ghana has not yet exhausted the powers already available under existing laws.
Speaking at his Presidential Media Encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the President said his administration is committed to intensifying enforcement without resorting to drastic measures prematurely.
“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 stated.
Mr. Mahama explained that government agencies already have sufficient authority to arrest offenders, seize equipment, and enforce forest protection laws.
“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 said.
The President cautioned that while declaring a state of emergency may sound appealing, it must remain a last resort.
“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,” he added.
