A former Chairman of National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Professor Stephen Adei, has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to declare a national emergency on illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’. Such a move, he said, would give the President emergency powers to decisively deal with the menace, which he described as a “gargantuan environmental degradation” issue.
Prof Adei was speaking at the 25th anniversary lecture of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Accra on Wednesday September 4, 2024. Prof Adei, who is also a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), said galamsey and its incidental destruction of forests, farmlands, water bodies and other natural resources, had become widespread, throwing people’s health and the future of this country into jeopardy. He gave an example of how galamsey had totally destroyed River Gimi, the major source of water for Obuasi and other surrounding communities.
Prof Adei lauded the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his decisive action in destooling chiefs found to be complicit in galamsey activities. If President Akufo-Addo was to heed the call by Prof Adei and declare galamsey as a national emergency, then it means the President could take actions to deal with the menace just as he did during the fight against the COVID -19 pandemic.
It is not clear what actions the President could take if he declared a national emergency on galamsey, but Article 31 of the 1992 Constitution, allows the President, acting on the advise of the Council of State, to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country. Prof Adei said after declaring a state of emergency to deal with the menace, the government should ensure those sponsoring or funding galamsey activities would face the full rigor of the law.
