President John Mahama says his administration will not rush into declaring a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, warning that such drastic action must be the last resort.

At his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, the President acknowledged rising public calls for tougher measures but insisted existing laws already provide enough power to act.

“I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency,” he explained.

He stressed that government agencies already have the mandate to arrest offenders, seize equipment, and enforce forest protection laws.

“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act,” he said.

Mahama cautioned that declaring a state of emergency may sound appealing, but it must not be rushed.

“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.