Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency has cautioned against Ghanaians quickly calling for a state of emergency on illegal mining commonly known as galamsey.
According to Mustapha Gbande, the government is already taking decisive and tactical measures to combat the crisis.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Monday, June 23, Mustapha Gbande stated, “We shouldn’t be so quick to call for a state of emergency. This is not something you simply impose.
Look at the situation today, forest reserves have effectively become no-go areas. We have witnessed calculated, precise military operations targeting these hotspots. The evidence is clear: many of these forest reserves are being reclaimed”.
He added, “We are making sure that the responsible institutions are not only functioning but operating more effectively than ever before. Would you say we are doing nothing? Should we suddenly declare a state of emergency now, when the cedi is stabilising and the economy is showing signs of revival largely thanks to gold regulations?”
“The government has made it absolutely clear that anyone involved in illegal mining will face the full force of the law. It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to expose those, both within and outside government, who have engaged in or supported illegal mining. This is a matter we must handle with tact,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has arrested 23 suspects and disabled 64 Changfan mining machines during a series of operations targeting illegal mining in the Western Region.
The operations, conducted between June 20 and June 22, 2025, took place in the Wassa Akropong District, Wassa Dominase, and Asankrangwa.
According to the Police, these actions form part of a broader nationwide effort to combat illegal mining across various parts of the country.
