Galamsey Emergency Threats Fall Flat Without Plan

A government official says declaring emergency powers against illegal mining would fail without proper backup plans. Paa Kwasi Schandorf works as the media officer for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. He spoke on GHOne TV Wednesday about the mining crisis. Schandorf believes emergency declarations might look serious but accomplish nothing without real action. The official compared empty promises to people who claim they want to change but keep doing wrong things.

Schandorf used a religious example to explain his point. He talked about someone who promises to live a clean life on New Year's Day but still keeps cigarettes and alcohol around their house. The person makes big public statements about being pure but refuses to throw away the items that cause problems. Emergency declarations against illegal mining could work the same way if leaders do not remove the tools that help criminals.

The ministry has created a five-part plan to fight illegal mining operations across Ghana. Schandorf says this structured approach works better than dramatic announcements. President John Mahama faces growing pressure to declare emergency powers over mining damage. Environmental and health problems from illegal mining continue to spread throughout the country.