Declare state of emergency in mining areas – OccupyGhana

Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to declare a state of emergency in all mining areas in the country as a first step towards curbing the menace of galamsey.

To the group, this will help the President and his governments streamline mining activities in the country.

In a letter addressed to the presidency and copied to the media yesterday, Occupyghana, citing article 31(9) of the Constitution, reminded the president that the constitution allows for the declaration of a state of emergency in ‘situation in which any action is taken or is immediately threatened to be taken by any person or body of persons which—

(a) is calculated or likely to deprive the community of the essentials of life; or

(b) renders necessary the taking of measures which are required for securing the public safety, the defence of Ghana and the maintenance of public order and of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.’

They expressed worry about the potential risk the nation faces of “losing our very essence as a nation unless immediate and radical action is taken, first to STOP all unregulated and illegal mining, and then put a process in place to REGULATE artisanal mining, going forward.”

OccupyGhana thus urged the president to seek the advice of the Council of State on the galamsey issue and also recall parliament from its vacation to deal with the issue.

Given the gravity of the situation facing the nation., the pressure group expects the state of Emergency to remain till government gets a handle on the issue.

They promised their willingness to proffer any advice or suggestions on how government could effectively regulate the artisanal mining industry in Ghana in the wider interest of all Ghanaians.