The Member of Parliament for the Tema West Constituency, Lawyer James Enu, has stated that declaring a state of emergency will not put an end to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, despite its devastating impact on Ghana’s environment.
Speaking on the matter on November 22nd ,2025 during the Members and Adult only fitness walk, Lawyer Enu described galamsey as a national crisis that has severely polluted water bodies, destroyed forest reserves, and affected farmlands—posing serious health risks to citizens. However, he emphasized that a state of emergency is not the solution.
“Galamsey has become a national issue which has affected our water bodies, forest reserves and even crops, which has become detrimental to our health. But I don’t think declaring a state of emergency will solve the problem. We must rather put in place the right measures to deal with the issue head-on,” he stressed.
The MP proposed that areas heavily affected by illegal mining should be classified as hotspots, with strict restrictions and effective monitoring put in place to curb the menace.
He further recommended that institutions mandated to protect the environment—including NAIMOS and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—be adequately resourced.
According to him, providing these agencies with sufficient logistics, equipment and operational support will strengthen national efforts in the fight against illegal mining.
Lawyer Enu reiterated the need for sustainable, well-coordinated strategies rather than temporary measures, calling for a united front to protect the country’s natural resources.
By: Akosua Gyamfua/Planbfmonline.com
Discussion about this post