A political scientist at the University of Ghana, Dr Joshua Zaato has said that claims that President John Dramani Mahama is a listening president are not supported by the facts on the ground.
He noted that there have been calls on the president to declare a state of emergency to address the illegal small-scale mining menace, but the president has not done that.
He also stated that calls were made to the president to repeal the law that permits mining in the forest, but that has not been done. To that end, he said the president cannot be said to be a listening president.
“The Ghana Catholic Bishops told Mahama to declare a state of emergency, but he has not listened. He has been told to repeal the LI, but he is not doing it.. If he is a listening president, what kind of listening president is he? ” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, June 21, after another political scientist, Prof Ransford Gyampo stated on the same show that President Mahama is a listening president.
Prof Gyampo, who is also CEO of the Shippers Authority, further said that there is a need to tackle the political party stalwarts involved in the illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) in order to address the menace.
He noted that while efforts are being made to resolve galamsey, the menace keeps festering.
“The more they are fighting, the more the thing is festering. There are some party people involved in the menace, and they are fighting the Minister and the IGP
“We want to meet President Mahama to bring together a reasoned complaint and bring it to the attention of President Mahama. Yes, they are doing what they can, but the problem is festering,” Prof Gyampo who is also a member of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, June 21.
“We are calling for a declaration of a state of emergency. Will NDC lose power if a state of emergency is declared? Listen to the calls,” he suggested.
Earlier, Convenor of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi, also urged Ghanaians not to relent in their efforts to end illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking at a press conference held in Accra by the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey on June 19, 2025, Hosi lamented the public’s attitude in the fight against the environmental crisis.
He called on citizens to rise up and defend the country’s natural resources, stressing that the struggle against galamsey is a shared national responsibility.
“If matter comes, a lot of these politicians they will leave this town. Most of the Ghanaians they are sitting here, when the wahala comes, they will be gone. But what water you will drink, it will be your own wahala. They would have made the money out of here and you will be suffering for the decision that they have taken. Fight for your future, fight for your children,” he urged.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey is urging the government to take bolder and more decisive steps to combat illegal mining across the country.
The coalition’s convenor, Kenneth Ashigbey, criticized the government’s slow approach and demanded the immediate repeal of L.I. 2462 the legislative instrument that permits mining in forest reserves.
“We will not accept an amendment that responds to the interests of certain individuals, not taking into account the interests of the nation. The LI 2462 must be revoked and with urgency,” Ashigbey stated.
