Dr. Ken Ashigbey, the Convener of the Coalition Against Galamsey, has quizzed what the national security is not telling President John Mahama about galamsey.
According to Dr. Ken Ashigbey, the Mahama himself said that galamsey has become a national emergency, but State institutions have not followed through with decisive measures.
He added that there are conditions for declaring a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Dr. Ashigbey stated, “We know the president, and that he is not a person who will implement a law in its draconian nature. So, we believe that under a state of emergency, we can be specific in the way we apply it and what it is that we do”.
“Currently, if we take all our water bodies, there is no fishing going on in them. But the ‘chamfans’ are still on them. There are many places where people have blocked portions of rivers and are mining illegally. You can declare a state of emergency in those areas,” he explained.
“The president said they have reclaimed about nine. Their grading used to be red and now some have improved to amber. But people are still destroying them. You can declare a state of emergency in those as well so that no excavator moves into those communities,” he added.
Dr. Ken Ashigbey cited that Article 39 of the Constitution provides clear grounds for a national emergency as the destruction of galamsey meets the criteria.
“The president has said it himself that it is a national emergency, and it is because the ingredients that constitute a national emergency in Article 39 are all clearly shown. So, I don’t know what the national security is not telling the president,” he lamented.
Also, the Coalition Against Illegal Mining, in a press conference, renewed its demand for the government to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.
The Coalition Against Illegal Mining highlighted that galamsey is a grave threat to livelihoods, public health, and national security.
On Monday, September 15, the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, addressing the press, stated, “We are, therefore, making the following demands of the government in response to the president’s statement on deploying a state of emergency as a last resort.
One, by Article 31 9A and B, the circumstances under which a state of emergency may be declared include the current galamsey situation in which the actions being taken by the environmental criminals are calculated to deprive large communities of potable water, which is an essential of life,” he said.
However, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State for Government Communications, has said President John Mahama has not ruled out declaring a state of emergency on galamsey.
The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.
“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.
“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.
“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.
Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.
He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.
“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.
He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.
“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.