President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that the National Security Council does not currently see the need to declare a state of emergency in response to the ongoing fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement on illegal mining in Accra, the President stated that although he holds the constitutional power to declare a state of emergency, such action must be based on advice from the National Security Council, which, at present, believes the battle against galamsey can be won through existing legal and security frameworks.
“Yes, I have the power to do it,” Mahama said. “But the president acts not only on his authority but also on the advice of the National Security Council…as of now, the National Security Council believes that we can win the fight against galamsey without a state of emergency,” he affirmed.
However, the President also made it clear that he would not hesitate to declare it should the security leadership deem it necessary in the future.
“The day they advise me otherwise — that now we need a state of emergency — I will not hesitate in declaring it,” he said.
Mahama’s remarks come amid renewed pressure from civil society organisations and faith-based groups urging the government to take more drastic measures to stop the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
Despite not invoking emergency powers, Mahama reiterated his government’s full commitment to the fight, referencing ongoing reforms, prosecutions, and inter-agency operations aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks and restoring Ghana’s degraded lands and water bodies.
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“We still believe we have the power to win this fight,” he concluded.
