Andy Appiah-Kubi, a former Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, has called for a ‘wartime’ approach and presidential commitment in the fight against galamsey.
According to Andy Appiah-Kubi, galamsey is a war situation, and President John Mahama must show commitment.
He further asserted that when Akufo-Addo declared he would put his presidency on the line to fight galamsey, it was just words.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Appiah-Kubi stated, “When the NPP was in power, I spoke against our commitment to fight galamsey. Even in my constituency, I did not allow galamsey operations. All those who made an attempt were arrested and handed over to the police”.
“I never got afraid and stood my ground to stop the menace, even if it meant putting my life on the line. When Akufo-Addo declared he would put his presidency on the line, it was just words. True commitment must trickle down to those mandated to fight,” he argued.
The former lawmaker stressed, “If the President is committed, only one battalion can fight them. This is like a war situation; if the illegal miners want to threaten our survival, we must defeat them before they defeat us”.
Also, Dr Ken Ashigbey, the Convener of the Coalition Against Galamsey, has confidently told President John Dramani Mahama to sack all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in areas where illegal mining (galamsey) is prevalent.
According to Dr Ken Ashigbey, the galamsey fight requires urgent action as it is not progressing the way it should be.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Dr Ashigbey stated, “We believe it is not only us talking about it, but churches are also speaking about it. We all have to come on board to work on it.
But if galamsey is still ongoing in areas like Tarkwa, Obuasi, Prestea, then the DCEs and MCEs there must be sacked,” he insisted.
He added, “After sacking them, the government can investigate further to find out if they are part of the activities. If they are, then deal with them, because clearly, they are not helping matters”.
Dr. Ken Ashigbey, in a separate interview, quizzed what the national security is not telling President John Mahama about galamsey.
According to Dr. Ken Ashigbey, the Mahama himself said that galamsey has become a national emergency, but State institutions have not followed through with decisive measures.
He added that there are conditions for declaring a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Dr. Ashigbey stated, “We know the president, and that he is not a person who will implement a law in its draconian nature. So, we believe that under a state of emergency, we can be specific in the way we apply it and what it is that we do”.
“Currently, if we take all our water bodies, there is no fishing going on in them. But the ‘chamfans’ are still on them. There are many places where people have blocked portions of rivers and are mining illegally. You can declare a state of emergency in those areas,” he explained.
“The president said they have reclaimed about nine. Their grading used to be red and now some have improved to amber. But people are still destroying them. You can declare a state of emergency in those as well so that no excavator moves into those communities,” he added.
Dr. Ken Ashigbey cited that Article 39 of the Constitution provides clear grounds for a national emergency as the destruction of galamsey meets the criteria.
“The president has said it himself that it is a national emergency, and it is because the ingredients that constitute a national emergency in Article 39 are all clearly shown. So, I don’t know what the national security is not telling the president,” he lamented.
Additionally, the Coalition Against Illegal Mining, in a press conference, renewed its demand for the government to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.
The Coalition Against Illegal Mining highlighted that galamsey is a grave threat to livelihoods, public health, and national security.
On Monday, September 15, the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, addressing the press, stated, “We are, therefore, making the following demands of the government in response to the president’s statement on deploying a state of emergency as a last resort.
One, by Article 31 9A and B, the circumstances under which a state of emergency may be declared include the current galamsey situation in which the actions being taken by the environmental criminals are calculated to deprive large communities of potable water, which is an essential of life,” he said.