Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, has claimed President John Mahama is unable to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining because Ghana’s economy is overly reliant on gold revenue.

At his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, 10 September, President Mahama ruled out any immediate move to impose such a measure, stressing that a declaration of emergency must remain a last resort.

Reacting in an interview on Citi FM the following day, Thursday, September 11, Mr Konadu said the President’s remarks only reinforced the view that his government lacks the political will to confront the menace of galamsey.

“To declare a state of emergency does not necessarily mean putting soldiers on the streets to open fire on people, as we have witnessed in places like Manso Tontokrom where assembly members and residents have been shot. Rather, it means imposing a complete stop to illegal mining.”

“The President’s response was shameful, and it makes me believe he will never take that step,” he said.

Mr Konadu further argued that the President’s own words exposed the real reason for his reluctance.

He maintained that Mr Mahama has effectively admitted that Ghana’s economy is propped up by gold exports, which makes it politically impossible for him to clamp down decisively on illegal mining.