Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, has said President John Dramani Mahama never promised to declare a state of emergency.
According to Edudzi Tamaklo, when all flagbearers were invited to attend a program by a coalition on galamsey, John Mahama was extremely cautious on the question of the state of emergency.
Edudzi Tamaklo further challenge anyone to provide evidence that President Mahama made such a statement while in opposition.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on September 13, 2025, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo stated, “What I want us to do is an objective critique, devoid of emotions, is to look at the interventions. I don’t have a problem with critiquing the interventions and say this one can be better.
First of all, President John Mahama, then candidate Mahama, never on any platform promised to declare a state of emergency. I have challenged everybody to produce for me just a video recording of President Mahama making that I will or a proclamation that I will, with the benefit of power, declare a state of emergency”.
He continued, “I remember vividly a group had put together a coalition at the tail end and invited the main flagbearers to that program. When President Mahama attended that program, he was extremely cautious on the question of the state of emergency because we all appreciate that the moment you declare a state of emergency, you change the dynamics of that locality”.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has said implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort.
According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.
He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.
Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “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”, he added.
John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.
“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,” he added.
John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.
“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.
“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.
John Mahama also added that his administration has not granted a single mining licence for operations within Ghana’s forest reserves after his return to office.
“Let me be clear. Since my administration resumed office, not a single licence has been issued to any company to mine in our forest reserves”, he confidently added.
He further added that the livelihoods of about 4 million Ghanaians depend on small-scale mining.
According to Mahama, the fight against galamsey is going to be a process, which is not going to be an event.
John Mahama explained, “ I didn’t expect that in 8 months we would declare victory in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), as the livelihoods of about 4 million Ghanaians depend on small-scale mining. So, it’s going to be a process. It’s not going to be an event, but we will not give up. We are determined to get on top of the situation.
He added, “The GoldBod was introduced as part of the reforms to streamline the operations of gold buying in the country. If the gold board was not introduced, I mean, those who were profiting from the small-scale mining sector were the foreign traders (sic). In six months, we have exported over $6 billion worth of gold. About $4 billion of that money was going to go into the pockets of foreign traders”.
“So, the first thing is, you shut the stable door so that the horse doesn’t escape, which is what we’ve done. So, if it’s from illegal sources or it’s from legal sources, it is retained in the country because at least it’s our land that is being destroyed. So, let us get the benefit of it instead of foreign traders. So, that’s the first thing,” he added.
Watch the video below:
President Mahama never promised to declare a state of emergency. I challenge anyone to provide evidence that he made such a statement while in opposition – Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority#TheKeyPoints pic.twitter.com/VRdRBYEkrd
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 13, 2025