The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has said there is currently no need to declare a state of emergency over illegal mining, insisting that government’s ongoing anti-galamsey measures are producing positive results.
The Ministry says recent interventions and reforms are gradually addressing the challenges that allowed illegal mining activities to spread in many parts of the country.
Speaking in an interview, the Ministry’s Media Relations Officer, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, described calls for a state of emergency as premature under the current circumstances.
“The call for a declaration of a state of emergency, materially as of now, is moot and inconsequential,” he said.
He acknowledged that galamsey remains a major threat to the environment and national security, but maintained that current government actions are helping to restore order in affected communities.
According to Schandorf, weak enforcement systems and poor regulation of the licensing regime previously enabled armed illegal miners to take control of several forest reserves.
“One of the major problems was that about nine forest reserves had been completely taken over by armed illegal miners. Enforcement was weak, and there were no proper structures to regulate the licensing regime,” he explained.
He said government has since intensified operations to reclaim forest reserves while implementing reforms to strengthen oversight within the mining sector.
Schandorf added that although declaring a state of emergency remains an option, it would only be considered if current efforts fail to deal with the problem effectively.
“If we get to a point where the current interventions are not enough, government may decide to take stronger action, including declaring a state of emergency,” he stated.
The Ministry says authorities will continue with existing strategies as efforts to combat illegal mining and restore degraded lands intensify across the country.