Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has cautioned against over-reliance on a state of emergency as a fix for illegal mining, stressing that Ghana’s existing laws already empower security agencies to act.
“What is it that we can’t do now, but only a state of emergency will allow us to do? A declaration of a state of emergency is a paper; it is not a magic wand. You will still need the police to enforce it,” Kpebu argued on TV3’s KeyPoints.
He added, “Under the law, currently, the Police can help; they are allowed to go and stop the galamseyer, and the president says that after that they [Police] will have a prominent presence in the forest.”
Echoing a different but complementary perspective, Sammy Gyamfi, who appeared on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, highlighted that the tide is already turning against galamsey.
“We are seeing genuine political will, which is the most important ingredient needed to defeat the galamsey menace. It didn’t used to be the case,” he said.
Gyamfi, who also leads the Ghana Gold Board, revealed the Board’s contributions to frontline operations.
“We’re giving them 5 million, we’re giving them 5 pickups. Very soon, we’ll give them more pickups because they need more.
“We’ll give them more money,” he disclosed, while urging the private sector to lend support. “I want to encourage corporate Ghana and all those who can help.”
He praised the NEMOS task force for their resilience and called on the media and citizens to highlight successes while demanding accountability where necessary.
“Highlight their successes while holding them accountable where necessary,” he urged.
