The Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwaa, has expressed disappointment with President John Dramani Mahama’s stance on the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking at the Jubilee House during a Presidential Media Encounter on Wednesday, September 10, President Mahama defended his government’s decision not to declare a state of emergency, arguing that existing laws already empower the state to address the menace. He stressed that a state of emergency should only be considered as a “last resort.”

Reacting on Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Thursday, September 11, Madam Awula Serwaa said the President’s remarks were unsatisfactory, given the scale of the problem.

She argued that the situation has worsened, making stronger action necessary.

Awula Serwaa further urged the government to act decisively, saying the window of opportunity to halt galamsey was rapidly closing.

“I was disappointed [in Mahama’s comments], you will recall that in the run-up to the 2024 elections, we had persons in the current administration asking for a state of emergency to be declared.

“It’s very interesting that things have gone from bad to worse. The canker is not stopping; it’s an essential threat. It’s very difficult to understand how, a short while ago, we were advocating for a state of emergency, and now we think it’s not necessary.

“The window of opportunity to stop this canker is closing. We need to act decisively now, not yesterday. The more we wait, the more the environmental terrorists are getting emboldened,” she warned.