Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has called on President Mahama to declare a state of emergency on mining in water bodies and forest reserves, citing escalating environmental damage and risks to public health and future generations
According to him, the level of degradation caused by illegal mining requires firm action.
He opined that declaring a state of emergency would enable the government to freeze all existing licences, in order to reclaim the affected areas.
“When you declare a state of emergency, you freeze all rights. So the accrued rights are frozen, and then you can go into the forest to deal with the people who are there. We need to protect the environment,” he said.
He warned that any delay could have severe repercussions for the Mahama administration, emphasising that the government’s response to illegal small-scale mining could become a defining issue of its tenure.
“If there’s anything that will affect us as a government, more in this term of John Dramani Mahama, it will be our ability or inability to fight illegal small-scale mining,” he said in an interview on Joy FM.
Inusah Fuseini reminded that the NDC, while in opposition, promised to declare a state of emergency and repeal Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, allowing mining in forest reserves. He emphasized fulfilling these promises is a matter of “moral integrity” and welcomed recent steps toward repealing the law.
Highlighting the human impact, Inusah Fuseini linked polluted rivers to increased kidney disease and birth defects, warning of a potential health crisis if water bodies continue to deteriorate. He cautioned that unchecked exploitation could turn Ghana’s landscapes into deserts, citing global examples.
Urging Ghanaians to protect forests and rivers for present and future generations, Fuseini invoked the principle of intergenerational equity. Recalling his involvement in environmental protests, he suggested swift presidential action could prevent further demonstrations.
“The demonstration may not become necessary anymore,” he said, urging the government to honour the pledges it made to the Ghanaian people.