President Mahama Signals Willingness to Declare a State of Emergency Over Galamsey if Security Council Recommends
President John Dramani Mahama has made it clear that he is prepared to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, should Ghana’s National Security Council advise that such drastic action is necessary. Speaking during a stakeholder dialogue with civil society organizations in Accra on Friday, Mahama emphasized that while he possesses the constitutional authority to impose a state of emergency, any such decision would be guided strictly by security assessments and expert advice.
“Right now, the National Security Council believes we can effectively fight galamsey without declaring a state of emergency,” Mahama stated. “However, if at any point they advise me that declaring a state of emergency is the only way to save our environment and protect our water bodies, I will not hesitate to do so.” His remarks come amidst mounting calls from environmentalists, religious leaders, and civil society groups demanding urgent state action to curb the alarming destruction caused by illegal mining.
Environmental advocates have long argued that the scale of damage—rivers polluted, forests destroyed, and farmland rendered unusable—requires extraordinary measures to prevent irreversible environmental degradation. Over recent months, organizations such as the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference have issued repeated warnings, warning that failure to act decisively could result in the collapse of vital water sources and threaten rural livelihoods.
President Mahama highlighted ongoing efforts by his administration, including deploying additional military personnel, strengthening joint task forces, and channeling more resources into anti-galamsey initiatives. He urged civil society to maintain pressure and continue advocating for reforms, promising that his government’s engagement would be ongoing and transparent. “This is not a one-time conversation. We will continue to work together, report on our progress, and hold accountable all ministries involved in this fight,” he assured.
The president also reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s natural heritage, emphasizing that future generations should inherit a country with lush forests, clean rivers, and healthy ecosystems, not environmental ruin. “Our forefathers handed us a beautiful Ghana. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to preserve that legacy and prevent their environment from being poisoned and degraded,” he declared.
Despite calls from many quarters for a declaration of a state of emergency, Mahama stressed that such drastic measures would only be used as a last resort, after considered advice from security officials. Meanwhile, critics, including some opposition lawmakers and security analysts, continue to question whether the government is doing enough and argue that delaying such declarations only worsens the environmental .