On Monday, September 28, Ibrahim Adjei, Resident Country Director of International Investments LLC, criticised President John Dramani Mahama for denying that he had pledged to declare a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, or galamsey. Adjei said the President’s denial was inconsistent with earlier statements made by senior National Democratic Congress members while the party was in opposition.
Adjei spoke on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV, questioning the President’s claim that he had never said he would invoke emergency powers. He cited the President’s remarks in New York on Friday, September 25, when Mahama insisted he had “never ever” promised a state of emergency over galamsey.
According to Adjei, the President could not distance himself from calls for emergency measures made by NDC figures during their time in opposition. He said, “Now, John Dramani Mahama, the President, either is lying or is suffering from some kind of amnesia because how is it that your body politic every day is on TV back in opposition, it calls for a state of emergency and you are saying you don’t know anything about it?”
Adjei further challenged the President’s stance, noting that the Minister for Foreign Affairs had previously supported emergency action while the President maintained a neutral position. “As a leader, when your spokesman on foreign affairs, now your substantive Minister for Foreign Affairs, says this and you say that you want to play neutral by saying that you never said you would implement it. What are you telling Ghanaians?” he asked.
Mahama has reiterated that he has not announced any decision to invoke emergency powers over illegal mining. He said the government already has the legal authority to conduct targeted operations against the activity, which affects multiple regions.
Observers will watch how the President’s administration responds to the growing criticism and whether any policy shifts on galamsey enforcement emerge in the coming weeks.
