Convener of Elections Watch Ghana, Mark Ewusi Arkoh says calls for a national State of Emergency to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, are unnecessary.
He contends that President John Dramani Mahama and his ministers are already implementing effective measures to address the menace.
According to him, declaring a State of Emergency would have severe economic and social consequences for mining communities, where small-scale mining remains the primary source of livelihood in the absence of viable alternatives.
“If we call for a state of emergency, it means the entire community will go dead,” Arkoh cautioned, arguing that a blanket declaration could cripple local economies.
He explained that while his group previously supported a state of emergency, their stance has changed due to the pragmatic and results-oriented approach being adopted by the current administration.
“In the past, we supported a state of emergency. But this time, we are not supporting it because what President John Mahama and his Lands Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, are putting in place is making headway,” Arkoh said on Yɛn Nsempa Morning Show on Onua FM.
He added that the government’s ongoing efforts are yielding visible improvements.
“The government is taking positive strides. Today, the River Ankobra is looking better than it was a few years ago,” he noted, commending the administration’s commitment to environmental restoration.
Falling on that, Arkoh took a swipe at the previous government, led by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, accusing it of failing to take concrete action against illegal mining.
“Former President Akufo-Addo wasn’t taking any real action to stop galamsey—he was deceiving Ghanaians. You cannot come in the name of politics and tell us wishful things,” he asserted.
