Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has cautioned against hastily declaring a state of emergency over illegal mining activities, despite growing calls from environmentalists, civil society organisations and sections of the public.
The calls come in response to the persistent degradation of river bodies and forest reserves due to illegal mining, widely known as “galamsey.”
Gbande, who also serves as the Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), said the government is already taking decisive and tactical measures to combat the crisis.
“We shouldn’t be so quick to call for a state of emergency. This is not something you simply impose. Look at the situation today, forest reserves have effectively become no-go areas. We have witnessed calculated, precise military operations targeting these hotspots. The evidence is clear: many of these forest reserves are being reclaimed,” he said.
Gbande defended the government’s approach, insisting that institutions mandated to tackle the issue are functioning with renewed effectiveness.
“We are making sure that the responsible institutions are not only functioning but operating more effectively than ever before. Would you say we are doing nothing? Should we suddenly declare a state of emergency now, when the cedi is stabilising and the economy is showing signs of revival largely thanks to gold regulations?”
He further reiterated the government’s commitment to accountability and enforcement of the law in the fight against illegal mining. Gbande emphasised the need for a measured and coordinated response rather than rash decisions that may not yield lasting results.
“The government has made it absolutely clear that anyone involved in illegal mining will face the full force of the law. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to expose those, both within and outside government, who have engaged in or supported illegal mining. This is a matter we must handle with tact,” he stressed in an interview on Joy News on Monday, June 23.