‘I never said I’ll declare a state of emergency’ – Mahama on galamsey

President John Dramani Mahama has sought to set the record straight on claims that his administration intends to declare a state of emergency over illegal mining, saying he has made no such announcement.

Speaking to Ghanaians in New York on Friday, September 25, Mr Mahama said although emergency powers could be used to confront serious national challenges, they should remain a measure of last resort.

“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 questioned the practicality of applying such a measure to illegal mining, which he said has affected 10 regions across the country.

According to him, a state of emergency would ordinarily be more effective when limited to a specific area, allowing government to concentrate resources and operations there before lifting the measure once the problem is addressed.

“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 government already has the necessary powers to deal with illegal mining and is using targeted operations in identified galamsey hotspots.

He acknowledged the difficulty of tackling the illegal mining menace but reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing its impact on Ghana’s environment and affected communities.

Also read:

• Paediatric Society urges Mahama to declare galamsey public health emergency

• National Security Council believes we can tackle galamsey without state of emergency – Mahama