The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has called on government to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
He argues that all conventional measures have failed to stop the menace, leaving the nation at risk of irreversible damage.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV, Mr. Ahiagbah stressed that half-hearted efforts would not suffice in addressing the crisis.
“Anybody seen on that, regular process will not work, that is part of the declaration,” he said.
“You suspend the constitution in terms of application in that order and ensure that certain seriousness is brought to the fight so that we can curtail or deal with that menace because it is that dangerous and everything else has been tried.”
The NPP communications director further maintained that such drastic action is “not negotiable,” warning that Ghana cannot afford to treat the situation lightly any longer.
“Without it, Ghana risks irreversible environmental destruction,” he cautioned.
His comments add to the growing national debate on whether declaring a state of emergency is the next logical step in combating galamsey.
President John Dramani Mahama, however, has suggested that there are still tools available within existing powers before resorting to such a drastic measure.
At his media encounter on Wednesday, September 10, he 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.”
