The Convener of the Coalition Against Galamsey, Ghana, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has strongly refuted claims by the Deputy Chief Executive of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Michael Ayamga-Adongo, who recently warned that declaring a state of emergency in illegal mining areas could spark violent clashes and a potential “blood bath.”
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Tuesday, September 16, Dr. Ashigbey argued that the EPA deputy misrepresented the Constitution and Ghana’s emergency laws. He clarified that a state of emergency is not about indiscriminate military action but about empowering the government to take lawful, targeted steps to combat illegal mining and protect lives.
“I am not too sure the deputy of the EPA has read the Constitution, Articles 31 and 32, or the Emergency Powers Act, 1994 (Act 472). Because if you look into those two pieces of legislation, you will see what the government should do. Under a state of emergency, you don’t go and take a gun and shoot people. That is not what anybody is asking for,” he stressed.
Dr. Ashigbey explained that emergency powers would allow the government to:
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Restrict movement in polluted areas
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Deport non-citizens engaged in galamsey
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Take immediate control of seized excavators without lengthy court processes
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Search premises without a warrant
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Temporarily suspend certain laws to restore order
“These are the things you do under a state of emergency. You can take control and acquire property, or you can restrict access to water bodies currently destroyed by galamsey. The law is very clear… So let nobody throw dust into our eyes,” he emphasised.
He further criticised Prof. Ayamga-Adongo for downplaying the devastating impact of galamsey on Ghanaian lives.
“Is the EPA Deputy CEO not seeing the eight people who die? He’s not seeing the people whose renal diseases are taking them away? Is he not seeing people who are losing their lives because of this menace?” he questioned.
Dr. Ashigbey expressed confidence that President John Mahama would uphold constitutional provisions if a state of emergency were declared.
“This is a President who upholds the rule of law. He is not a President who will be draconian in his dealings,” he maintained.
Source: Emma Ankrah
