Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the National Coordinator for the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), has admitted that Ghanaians are not happy with President John Mahama’s recent remarks on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, during his media encounter.
Vanderpuye noted that many Ghanaians anticipated a more decisive stance on the fight against illegal mining.
The former lawmaker, however, defended President Mahama’s stand on the state of emergency as intelligent.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, September 11, Vanderpuye noted, “The only response that people were not too happy with was the president’s on galamsey.
I think people came there expecting that he would accept and declare a state of emergency. But listening to various media houses and people’s reactions, it appears that is the one response many were not too happy about.
“I think that he handled it intelligently. He made it clear that indeed there could be a state of emergency, but that would be after he had exhausted all the opportunities and the legal regimes available to him as head of state. And indeed, we haven’t exhausted them yet—we still have many avenues to use,” he explained.
Vanderpuye added, “I never thought the fight against galamsey was going to be an event, but rather a process. There are a number of interventions in place, such as the Blue Water Guards and others. It tells you that there is a plan, except that the plans in place have not yet yielded the results people are expecting”.
Vanderpuye’s remarks follow, President John Dramani Mahama’s revelation that implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort.
According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.
He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.
Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.
“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.
John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.
“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.
John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.
“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.
“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.
John Mahama also added that his administration has not granted a single mining licence for operations within Ghana’s forest reserves after his return to office.
“Let me be clear. Since my administration resumed office, not a single licence has been issued to any company to mine in our forest reserves”, he confidently added.
In addition, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has warned that the declaration of a state of emergency on galamsey will undermine Ghana’s democracy.
The NDC chairman boldly asserted that he does not subscribe to calls from some sections of Ghanaians for the government to declare a state of emergency on galamsey.
Asiedu Nketia cautioned that the declaration of a state of emergency on galamsey will lead to the suspension of the constitution, which could lead to people shooting and killing at will.
According to Asiedu Nketia, illegal mining is a pressing issue, and the government is working to find solutions to it.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, August 26, Asiedu Nketia detailed, “Work is being done about the galamsey fight, and we hope to be able to find solutions to it. But I don’t subscribe to the declaration of the state of emergency as other people are suggesting. In your frustration, you can call for certain measures that, when we begin implementing, you may live to regret”.
“If you intend to deal with galamsey and you declare a state of emergency, it means you have suspended the constitution. People can shoot and kill at will. How will you be sure that those who are shooting and killing are the ones fighting galamsey? That is another matter,” he noted.
The NDC chairman further called on the public to propose constructive and sustainable solutions to the fight against illegal.
Asiedu Nketia emphasised that the fight against illegal mining must be deep-rooted in the rule of law rather than measures that will undermine Ghana’s democracy.