The Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mutawakilu Adam, has dismissed suggestions that declaring a state of emergency is the appropriate response to the illegal mining menace, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking at a meeting between President John Mahama and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Friday, October 3, Mr Adam expressed doubt about the effectiveness of such a measure, warning of potential disruptions to livelihoods and local economies.

“The question is that, will a state of emergency solve the problem? Me, I don’t think so. No,” he said.

According to him, while the government has intensified efforts to curb illegal mining, declaring a state of emergency would impose significant hardships on communities where mining takes place.

“State of emergency shouldn’t affect the communities within which the mining takes place. Businesses will come down, a lot of things will be crashed, and they need to survive as well,” he explained.

Instead of such drastic action, Mr Adam emphasised the importance of sustained political will and commitment at the highest levels of government.

“For me, it’s not about a state of emergency. It’s the commitment the government, John Mahama, is showing, and with his appointees, to fighting it that is the most critical. State of emergency will not be the solution to illegal mining.”