The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has dismissed the calls for a state of emergency to address illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, as “draconian and excessively far-reaching.”

A report from Citi News noted that while recognizing the gravity of the galamsey issue and its critical importance to the government, Mr. Jinapor cautioned that extreme measures could inadvertently damage the economy, disrupt livelihoods, and complicate governance.

Recent calls from the Trades Union Congress and several civil society groups have urged President Akufo-Addo to impose a ban on all illegal mining activities and declare a state of emergency in affected mining regions.

On Wednesday, September 11, Organised Labour issued a firm ultimatum, threatening a nationwide strike by the end of the month if the government fails to take decisive action against the escalating galamsey crisis.

At a media briefing in Accra, Mr. Jinapor acknowledged the intense public frustration and environmental damage caused by illegal mining. However, he cautioned that a state of emergency might exacerbate social and economic instability.

The Minister assured that the government is committed to engaging with labour unions and civil society organizations to find effective solutions to the galamsey problem.

“Declaring a state of emergency, that is in the bosom of the president, but I find that being far-reaching, [being] a very draconian measure to take.

“So we will engage him and we will have this conversation, and I believe out of that, we maybe need to come up with some consensus that we can work with.”