President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed reports suggesting that his government intends to declare a state of emergency to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, insisting that he has never announced plans to invoke such extraordinary powers. Editorial Ethics & Independence
Speaking to Ghanaians in New York on Friday, September 25, 2026, during his engarogements on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, President Mahama clarified his position on the use of a state of emergency in addressing the persistent illegal mining problem.
The President said such reports misrepresented his position, stressing that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort when dealing with serious national challenges.
“They said I said a state of emergency. I never ever said that. I never ever said I’ll declare a state of emergency,” Mahama stated.
His comments come amid continuing public discussions about the government’s approach to illegal mining, an activity that has raised concerns over environmental degradation, water pollution, destruction of forest reserves and the livelihoods of communities affected by mining operations.
Mahama Explains Why Emergency Powers Should Be a Last Resort
The President acknowledged that declaring a state of emergency could be useful under certain circumstances but argued that the measure was not necessarily the most practical response to an illegal mining problem affecting multiple parts of the country. Editorial Standards
According to Mahama, emergency measures are generally more effective when applied to a specific area where authorities can concentrate resources, address the immediate problem and subsequently lift the restrictions.
“But states of emergency are useful, but you declare them as a last resort. If you declare a state of emergency, you normally declare it in an isolated area and you deal with the issue,” he explained.
“You concentrate all your energy there, deal with the issue, and you finish it, and you lift the state of emergency,” he added.
Mahama questioned how such an approach would work in the fight against galamsey, which he said affects 10 regions across Ghana.
His explanation suggests that the geographical spread of illegal mining presents a challenge for any response that depends primarily on emergency measures limited to particular locations.
A nationwide or multi-region problem, he indicated, requires sustained enforcement and targeted interventions rather than assuming that declaring a state of emergency would automatically resolve the issue.
Government Says It Has Powers to Tackle Illegal Mining
President Mahama maintained that the government already possesses the necessary legal powers to act against illegal miners without declaring a state of emergency.
He said authorities were deploying targeted operations in areas identified as galamsey hotspots as part of efforts to contain the activity and address its consequences.
Such operations are intended to focus enforcement resources on locations where illegal mining has been identified as a significant concern.
However, the effectiveness of these interventions depends on consistent enforcement, coordination among relevant agencies and measures that prevent illegal mining activities from returning after operations have ended. Newscard
The government also faces the broader challenge of addressing the economic factors that sustain illegal mining, including employment and income opportunities in communities where mining provides livelihoods.
While enforcement remains an important part of the response, long-term progress also depends on protecting water bodies and forest reserves, ensuring compliance with mining regulations and promoting lawful economic alternatives for affected communities.
Mahama acknowledged the complexity of the problem but reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and reducing its environmental and social consequences.
What Ghana’s Constitution Says About a State of Emergency
Article 31 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution sets out the conditions and procedures for declaring a state of emergency.
Under the provision, the President may declare a state of emergency, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, through a proclamation published in the Gazette. The facts and circumstances leading to the declaration must then be presented to Parliament, which is required to decide within 72 hours whether the proclamation should remain in force or be revoked.
The Constitution also provides for parliamentary approval and periodic review of an emergency declaration. These requirements establish legal and institutional checks on the exercise of emergency powers.
Mahama’s remarks underline his stated position that such powers should not be treated as the default response to the galamsey crisis.
Galamsey Fight Remains a Major National Challenge
Illegal mining continues to pose significant challenges for Ghana’s environmental protection efforts and the management of natural resources. Pollution of rivers and streams can affect communities’ access to safe water, while mining in forest reserves can damage ecosystems and agricultural land.
For communities affected by these activities, the consequences extend beyond environmental damage to public health, farming, local economies and the cost of obtaining clean water.
The President’s clarification does not signal a retreat from the government’s stated commitment to tackling illegal mining. Rather, he has emphasised targeted enforcement and the use of existing legal powers instead of declaring a state of emergency as an immediate solution.
The practical test will be whether the ongoing operations and other government interventions can deliver sustained reductions in illegal mining, protect vulnerable water bodies and forest reserves, and support communities affected by the activity. Corrections Policy
For now, Mahama has made his position clear he says he never announced plans to declare a state of emergency over galamsey and considers such a measure a last resort.
The government’s continuing actions and their results will determine how effectively it addresses the widespread illegal mining challenge.