Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics Consultant based in the United States, Dr Solomon Owusu, has warned that Ghana may be forced to declare a state of emergency if illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, is not tackled within the next three months.

Speaking on Joy Prime's Prime Insight on Saturday, October 4, during a discussion on President John Mahama’s engagement with civil society organisations (CSOs) on galamsey, Dr Owusu said the time for talk was over and urgent action was needed.

“Please, we are giving the President maybe the next three months. I know he will call us again, we will be there, and at that time he will say, ‘Oh, we have started doing this,’ then we will all be satisfied.

“Because look, in the next three months, if nothing is done, I think people will push for state of emergency and I will be the senior campaigner for state of emergency,” Dr Owusu said.

He said that citizens expected decisive steps from the government to address the menace.

“Ghanaians want to see results, Ghanaians want to see actions. The two main problems are the water pollution and degradation. When are you starting? Have they allocated some budget to allow the institutions to flow? Yes or no?” he asked.

According to Dr Owusu, continued engagement without action would not solve the crisis.

“In the next three months, if they don’t start anything like addressing the issues, calling for engagement and all that is not the solution,” he said.

He went further to signal his personal commitment to activism if government failed to act.

“I will lead a demonstration. I wouldn’t mind stripping myself naked and lead the demonstration,” he said.