Founder and Chairperson of the People’s National Party (PNP), Janet Asana Nabila, has challenged President John Dramani Mahama to hand her the authority to tackle illegal mining, promising to end the menace within one month.

Speaking on JoyPrime’s Prime Morning on Monday, Ms Nabila insisted that only the Executive, led by the President, has the ultimate power to curb galamsey.

She argued that while traditional leaders play an important cultural role, their influence is limited when it comes to stopping the practice. According to her, decisive leadership from the presidency is the only solution.

"The Chiefs can't do this because we have given too much power to the President, and President Mahama can do anything (to end galamsey)," she said.

Ms Nabila went on to call on President Mahama to delegate the responsibility to her, saying she could eradicate galamsey in just four weeks if given the chance. “I am pleading with President Mahama to give me one month, as a woman, I will tell him how power is used, it is like he has power and doesn't know how to use it”, she declared.

"Before the God we serve, if President Mahama wants to end galamsey, he should concentrate on other matters and give me one month, and if I don't end galamsey, my name is not called Nabila. Since he cannot, he should give me the chance, I will do it," she added.

Her remarks add to mounting criticism of the government’s handling of galamsey, which continues to devastate water bodies, farmlands, and forest reserves despite several interventions.

President Mahama has recently stated that it is not yet time to declare a state of emergency on the issue, maintaining that existing laws are adequate to curb the illegal activity if properly enforced.