The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources says it recognises public calls for a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, but emphasises that other ongoing measures are already yielding positive results.
The response comes after a protest by members of the Fix the Country movement, who gathered at the Revolution Square in Accra on Sunday, September 21.
The activists are holding a vigil to demand stronger government action against galamsey, which has caused significant environmental damage in Ghana.
Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, urged the protesters to call off the vigil, citing President John Dramani Mahama’s trip to the United Nations General Assembly. He encouraged the group to allow time for further government engagement and promised a meeting between the movement’s leaders and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
The activists, however, rejected the appeal and insisted on continuing their vigil, arguing that government efforts so far have lacked the political will necessary to address the galamsey crisis effectively.
Speaking to Channel One News, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, Media Relations Officer for the Lands Ministry, acknowledged the validity of the calls for a state of emergency.
However, he explained that the government is currently implementing several interventions that are producing commendable, if not perfect, outcomes.
“We understand the sentiments around the declaration of a state of emergency,” Schandorf said. “But as much as it is a valid proposition, there are other measures that the government is rolling out, and all of them are giving us results.
“The results are not perfect, but they are commendable. We want to proceed on that path. When we get to a point where we feel it is necessary to declare a state of emergency, we will communicate that accordingly.”