10/3/2025
Calls for a State of Emergency over Ghana’s destructive illegal mining crisis, or galamsey, have been shut down by one of the country’s most respected traditional rulers. Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, the Dormaahene, says such a drastic measure is simply not needed right now.
The traditional ruler, who was recently sworn in as a Court of Appeal Justice, made it clear that while galamsey remains a serious threat to our water bodies-and you can still taste the silt in the river-declaring an emergency is not the right tool (Per Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, October 2, 2025).
His argument is rooted in pragmatism: if a State of Emergency is declared, the question is whether the government can truly sustain the required resources for total enforcement. If it cannot, a governance gap will open up, and the situation could even worsen.
And he stressed that mining itself cannot stop because Ghana relies on the resource. But it must be done responsibly. That is the whole point. He called for a focus on strict enforcement of existing laws to deter offenders and prosecute those who destroy the land.
The Dormaahene then laid the responsibility squarely at the feet of his fellow chiefs. He asserted that traditional leaders possess specific powers and must take proactive leadership roles to curb illegal activity in their domains, cooperating with police to ensure local accountability.
...You know that for years, fingers have been pointed at the perceived weakness of both government and local authorities in this fight. This rejection of sweeping, extraordinary powers signals a preference for governance that emphasizes rule of law and community engagement over heavy-handed military measures.
Will chiefs take up this gauntlet and enforce the law in their own backyards, or will they continue to wait for Accra to solve the problem?
You can watch the Dormaahene’s opposition to the state of emergency in this video. This clip highlights the Dormaahene's reasoning against a State of Emergency and his call for responsible mining, which is the core of this report.
Source: https://citinewsroom.com/2025/10/galamsey-dormaahene-rejects-calls-for-state-of-emergency/
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsdoPziwjyg