National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has opposed calls for Ghana to declare a state of emergency to address illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, warning that such a move could threaten the country’s democratic foundations.
Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV, Mr. Nketia acknowledged that galamsey remains a serious national challenge but argued that suspending constitutional governance in the fight against it could cause more harm than good.
“Work is ongoing to deal with the galamsey problem, and we hope solutions will be found. But I don’t support the idea of declaring a state of emergency. In your frustration, you can call for measures that, when implemented, you may later regret,” he cautioned.
He stressed that many advocates of such drastic action may not fully understand the risks involved.
“If you declare a state of emergency to fight galamsey, you suspend the constitution. Security forces can shoot and kill at will. How do you even confirm that those pulling the triggers are the ones actually fighting illegal mining? That becomes another problem,” he explained.
Mr. Nketia urged Ghanaians to pursue constructive, lawful, and sustainable solutions, emphasizing that the fight against galamsey requires reforms guided by consensus and anchored in constitutional rule.
He reiterated that the way forward must be rooted in democracy and the rule of law, not extraordinary measures that risk undermining Ghana’s stability.
Source: Adomonline
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