KEY POINTS
- Mahama’s galamsey response sparked disappointment among Ghanaians.
- Vanderpuye defended the president’s cautious approach.
- The fight against galamsey is a gradual process.
President John Dramani Mahama’s response to questions about illegal mining during his September 10, 2025, media encounter has stirred widespread debate, with many Ghanaians voicing disappointment over what they considered a cautious approach.
At the event, journalists pressed the president on whether he would declare a state of emergency to address the mounting environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
Public reaction to galamsey response
Instead of declaring such drastic action, Mahama explained that his administration had not yet exhausted legal avenues, stressing that an emergency declaration would remain a last resort. His remarks, however, fell short of public expectations.
“The only response that disappointed people was the president’s on galamsey. Many came expecting him to declare a state of emergency. But judging from media commentary and public reactions, that was the one response most people were unhappy about,” said Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, National Coordinator for the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP). Vanderpuye made his comments on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on September 11, underscoring the gap between public sentiment and government caution.
Galamsey fight seen as ongoing process
According to Vanderpuye, many citizens wanted a firmer declaration, but he defended Mahama’s remarks as measured and deliberate. “He handled it intelligently. He made it clear that a state of emergency remains an option, but only after exhausting the legal avenues available to him as head of state. And we have not yet exhausted those options—there are still many to pursue,” he explained.
Vanderpuye emphasized that the fight against galamsey should not be viewed as a single event but a gradual process. He pointed to initiatives such as the Blue Water Guards, aimed at curbing illegal mining activities, MyJoyOnline reported. “I never believed the fight against galamsey would be an event; it is a process. There are several interventions in place. These show there is a plan, but the results people expect have not yet materialised,” he added.
