The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Adam Mutawakilu Mutawakilu, has downplayed calls for the President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining.

Mr. Mutawakilu’s comments follow renewed calls from civil society organisations urging government to declare a state of emergency to safeguard water bodies and restore degraded lands affected by galamsey operations.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, October 20, he argued that such a move would not provide a sustainable solution to the problem.

“First and foremost I don’t think that State of Emergency will stop illegal mining. If you declare a State of Emergency in one area, they [illegal miners] would migrate to another area. At the end of the day, the whole of Ghana will be in a State of Emergency,” he said.

He stressed the need for lasting and pragmatic interventions rather than short-term directives.

Read also: Mahama rules out state of emergency in galamsey fight

“You declare a State of Emergency for how many years? There must be pragmatic measures, as President Mahama has outlined, to ensure sustainability. From my position at Ghana Water, I don’t believe state of emergency is the answer," he said.

He further noted that illegal mining is not the only factor polluting Ghana’s water systems, citing sand winning and construction activities, particularly in parts of the Upper East Region as additional contributors to the siltation of treatment plants.

Read also: Mahama says he’ll declare a State of emergency on galamsey if the Security Council advises