Communications team member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vincent Letsa Kobla Djokoto has charged the President to declare a state of emergency over the adverse effects of mining across the country.

The Managing Partner at D.K.T. Djokoto & Co. argued it is in the best interest of the country if all mining activities are halted.

“We have to stop all mining activity and separate the sheep from the goats,” Mr. Djokoto said, alluding to the Biblical parable of distinguishing good and bad elements.

He added that “we cannot, for the sake of jobs in the mining sector, sacrifice the future and survival of the entire society of Ghana.

“We must assess the situation and stop all mining activities which are destroying the water bodies and forests, whether the perpetrators have a license to do so or not. This requires the withdrawal of the L.I. which permits the president to grant licenses to mine in forest reserves. It is unacceptable”.

Mr. Djokoto has also joined calls for the release of all protestors who were arrested for hitting the streets to demand the cessation of galamsey.

The protests led to disturbances with analysts asserting that clandestine elements infiltrated the protest to cause the said disturbances and trigger police response.

A Circuit judge in Accra has remanded all the protestors into custody which has triggered even more protests and demand for their release.

Another protest is planned for October 3 with conveners demanding the release of arrested protestors and the halt of all harmful mining projects across the country.