The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has characterized the increasing demands for the declaration of a state of emergency regarding illegal mining as premature, asserting that the ongoing government interventions are already producing positive outcomes in the battle against galamsey.
As stated by the Ministry, the current enforcement actions and policy reforms are beginning to address the structural deficiencies that previously allowed illegal mining to proliferate in various regions of the country.
In an interview, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, the Media Relations Officer at the Ministry, stated that the request for a state of emergency is not warranted under the current circumstances.
“The demand for a declaration of a state of emergency, materially as of now, is moot and inconsequential,” he remarked.
He recognized that illegal mining continues to pose a significant environmental and security threat, but contended that the government’s existing strategy is stabilizing areas that were previously affected.
He noted that numerous forest reserves had been previously overrun by armed illegal miners, while ineffective enforcement systems and deficiencies in the licensing framework exacerbated the issue.
“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 stated.
Schandorf mentioned that the government has since implemented reforms and intensified operations aimed at reclaiming forest reserves and enhancing regulation within the mining sector.
He further indicated that while a state of emergency has not been dismissed, it remains a last-resort measure should current strategies fail to yield results.
“If we reach a point where the current interventions are insufficient, the government may opt for stronger actions, including declaring a state of emergency,” he stated.
For the time being, the Ministry maintains that the current strategy should be permitted to proceed as authorities intensify their efforts to combat illegal mining and rehabilitate degraded lands.
