President John Dramani Mahama has stated that declaring a state of emergency on illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, will only be considered as a last resort if all other efforts to tackle the problem fail.
The President spoke during his first press conference in eight months, responding to a question from GhOne journalist Joshua Kodjo Mensah on why he has not yet declared a state of emergency on illegal mining activities.
President Mahama explained his hesitation, saying, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we already have without it. We have the authority to arrest suspects, confiscate equipment, and enforce laws protecting forests and natural resources, which give us sufficient powers to act.”
He added, “Declaring a state of emergency may sound like a strong action, but it should remain the last extreme measure. For now, we should fully utilize all available powers. If it becomes necessary to impose a state of emergency, then we will consider it.”
Highlighting the legal process involved, Mahama noted, “The President can declare a state of emergency, but it comes with limitations. It requires approval from Parliament and cannot be maintained indefinitely. Also, it must clearly define the geographical areas where the state of emergency applies, and illegal mining sites are spread across multiple districts in the country.”
He concluded, “At this stage, the security agencies have been given enough authority to target and deal decisively with those involved in illegal mining.”
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
