Resident Country Director of International Investments LLC, Ibrahim Adjei, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama over his recent denial that he had promised to declare a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Mr Adjei argued that the President’s position was inconsistent with statements previously made by senior members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when the party was in opposition.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Monday, September 28, he noted that those statements created the impression that the use of emergency powers was being considered as one of the possible measures to address the illegal mining crisis.
His comments followed President Mahama’s remarks in New York on Friday, September 25, where the President insisted that he had “never ever” said he would declare a state of emergency over galamsey.
President Mahama explained that a state of emergency should only be considered as a last resort and questioned its practicality in dealing with an illegal mining problem that affects several parts of the country.
Mr Adjei, however, maintained that the President could not completely separate himself from previous calls for emergency measures made by prominent members of the NDC while in opposition.
“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?” he said.
He also cited comments from individuals who have since assumed senior positions in the Mahama administration, arguing that their earlier positions raised questions about the government’s current stance.
“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.
Mr Adjei’s comments come amid an ongoing national debate over the measures required to combat illegal mining and its impact on Ghana’s environment and natural resources.
President Mahama, for his part, has reiterated that he has not announced any decision to invoke emergency powers against galamsey. He has maintained that the government already has the legal authority to conduct targeted operations in areas identified as hotspots.
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