President John Dramani Mahama’s recent comments on illegal mining, or “galamsey,” have sparked public unease, with some Ghanaians voicing disappointment over what they viewed as a lack of urgency in confronting the issue.
During a nationally televised media engagement on September 10, President Mahama was asked whether his administration would consider declaring a state of emergency in response to the environmental degradation caused by galamsey operations. The president responded that while the option remains on the table, it would be invoked only after all legal avenues have been exhausted.
His remarks have since drawn mixed reactions.
Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, National Coordinator for the District Roads Improvement Programme, acknowledged on Thursday that the president’s position did not resonate with some segments of the public.
“The only response that people were not too happy with was the president’s on galamsey,” Vanderpuye said in an interview with Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on September 11. “I think people came there expecting that he would accept and declare a state of emergency. But listening to various media houses and people’s reactions, it appears that is the one response many were not too happy about.”
Despite the criticism, Vanderpuye defended the president’s handling of the issue as deliberate and measured.
“I think that he handled it intelligently,” he said. “He made it clear that indeed there could be a state of emergency, but that would be after he had exhausted all the opportunities and the legal regimes available to him as head of state. And indeed, we haven’t exhausted them yet—we still have many avenues to use.”
Illegal mining has emerged as one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges, with widespread destruction of forests, rivers, and farmlands prompting calls for more aggressive government action. While some analysts support the president’s legalist approach, others warn that delays could exacerbate the already dire situation on the ground.
As the Mahama administration navigates mounting pressure to act decisively, it remains to be seen whether legal mechanisms short of emergency powers will be sufficient to rein in the sprawling galamsey industry.
