Newly sworn-in Court of Appeal Judge and Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has rejected calls for a state of emergency on illegal mining.
According to the Dormaahene, it has not gotten to the point of declaring a state of emergency on galamsey.
He highlighted that Ghana gains in terms of mining, so once a state of emergency is declared, there will be a gap in resources.
Speaking after being sworn in alongside 20 others as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, the Dormaahene stated, “No, no, it has not come to that. Let us look at how much Ghana gains in terms of mining. Once you declare a state of emergency, you ask yourself who can do what. If we’re not able to get those resources, there will be a gap.
“Nobody will argue that there shouldn’t be mining, but it should be done responsibly. That will solve the whole thing. People who are doing galamsey we’re destroying ourselves; there’s a need to stop galamsey,” he stated.
The Dormaahene called on traditional leaders to take an active role in fighting illegal mining.
“I want to appeal to the chiefs, we the chiefs, we shouldn’t say we don’t have the power. If somebody is not allowing people to do galamsey, why can’t you do it? In Dormaa, if you come there, I will arrest you and give you to the police so that you will be prosecuted.
“They should ensure that the people do not engage in galamsey, because if you do it and you are arrested, you know the consequences already,” he warned.
The Dormaahene further claimed that galamsey has declined under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration
He added, “I have been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. Galamsey — the illegal mining — did not start yesterday; it’s been with us for some time. If you ask me about my assessment, I will say now it is going down”.
“You know why I am saying that? If you look at some of the steps that have been taken — before we were not hearing about the blue waterguards and all that…. Before this regime came, I know for a fact, because of the work that I do, nine forest reserves had been taken over. Now that the situation had been curbed”.
“I wouldn’t stand here and say galamsey is gone; it is still with us, but I believe that if you look at the seriousness… we should ensure that we nip this situation in the bud,” he said.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama, today, Friday, October 3, will host a high-level meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs) and key stakeholders about the illegal mining (galamsey).
The CSOs, namely the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ghana, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Office of the Chief Imam, the Ghana Muslim Mission, Arocha Ghana, and IMANI Ghana, among others.
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, 3rd October, 2025, at 12:00 noon at Jubilee House.
The dialogue is expected to bring together government officials and civil society leaders to find a lasting solution to the menace of illegal mining.
In a letter issued by Dr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, it indicates the dialogue will serve as a platform for frank and constructive discussions on illegal mining.
The letter stated, “This engagement aims to provide a platform for frank and constructive dialogue between the Government and civil society on the menace of illegal mining, with a view to harnessing collective expertise, perspectives, and solutions to address this national challenge”.
President Mahama’s invitation comes at a time when his government have been receiving backlash over their failure to properly deal with illegal mining.
Watch the video below:
Dormahene rejects public outcry for declaring state of emergency on illegal mining 😂😂😂
— Buzz Verse (@N33Sei) October 2, 2025
NDC communicators, after all he has served his party well and he has been rewarded pic.twitter.com/788PhHjWEZ