Samuel Abu Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Damongo and Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, has urged President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to follow through on their earlier commitment to declare a state of emergency in response to the growing illegal mining crisis, known as galamsey.
Jinapor stressed that it is both fair and necessary for the NDC to act on this promise, as they had made it clear before the 2024 elections that they would take decisive action on the galamsey issue.
“They were very categorical in their promises before coming to power. If they will not follow through with it, they should communicate that to the people,” Jinapor said.
The former Lands Minister highlighted that the galamsey problem has worsened significantly since the election, making the call for a state of emergency even more urgent.
“Today, galamsey is worse off, and a state of emergency is even more needed. If a state of emergency is what is going to help curb the situation, what is avoiding us from declaring it?” he questioned.
Jinapor emphasized the importance of consistency and principle in politics and governance, calling on the government to act truthfully and fulfill their promises to the people.
“If we are going to build a nation, we need to be very consistent. We should insist on politics and governance of principle. Ghanaians voted for them, and they are in government now. They should do the right thing and be truthful to the people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining.
He stated that the government is exploring various measures, including the possibility of declaring a state of emergency and temporarily banning small-scale mining, as part of efforts to combat the growing menace.
