President John Dramani Mahama has said that although the menace of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey continues to threaten Ghana’s environment and water bodies, it is not yet necessary for the government to declare a state of emergency.
Speaking during an engagement with journalists on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Mahama acknowledged the devastating impact of galamsey, particularly the destruction of farmlands, forests, and rivers.
He stressed, however, that the country must intensify existing enforcement measures before considering the drastic option of a state of emergency.
He said “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency.
“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act.”
Mahama reiterated that under an NDC government, a more transparent and community-focused approach would be adopted to regulate small-scale mining. This, he said, would protect livelihoods while safeguarding the environment.
Mahama explained that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort, and reiterated his administration’s commitment to enforcing existing regulations more vigorously.
He added that “Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it.”
Galamsey remains one of Ghana’s most pressing environmental challenges, with the Ghana Water Company warning that the situation could drive up water treatment costs and even render some water sources unusable in the near future.
For now, Mahama maintains that while urgent action is needed, declaring a state of emergency should be a last resort.