The former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has criticised President John Dramani Mahama’s engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on illegal Mining, describing it as unnecessary and misdirected.
He argued that the President should have instead prioritised consultations with traditional leaders, whom he described as the “true custodians,” of the land and critical to any sustainable solution to the galamsey menace and its effects on the environment and governance
“Civil society organisations are good, but they are there for advocacy and for policy implementation,” Dr. Boakye-Danquah stated, highlighting the fact that the President’s decision to meet with CSOs ahead of chiefs suggested a misplaced focus.
“I would have wished that President Mahama had met with very key people beyond the CSOs because the CSOs have always had a position on illegal mining and what they felt the government should do. My thought of initial stakeholder engagement would have been with the custodians of the land, which are the chiefs”
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security
He added that the government’s immediate priority should be direct engagement with communities most affected by illegal mining, particularly those under traditional authorities who oversee mining concessions and farmlands. “Deal with the people who live in the communities where irresponsible mining is ongoing,” he charged.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s remarks follow President Mahama’s meeting with major civil society organisations at the Jubilee House on Friday, October 3, 2025, as part of efforts to chart a national response to the escalating problem of illegal mining.
The high-level dialogue, according to the Office of the President, was aimed at fostering “frank and constructive discussions” to help shape policy direction toward environmental sustainability and responsible resource management.
The meeting was attended by senior government officials, environmental advocates, and representatives of leading policy think tanks, reflecting the administration’s intent to build a broad coalition against the menace. However, Dr. Boakye-Danquah insisted that while dialogue is important, the government must take firmer, community-rooted action to address the crisis at its source.
State of Emergency
Beyond questioning the President’s engagement approach, Dr. Boakye-Danquah also urged President Mahama to demonstrate stronger leadership by declaring a state of emergency over galamsey.
He described the situation as a “national security threat,” that demands immediate and decisive intervention from the highest levels of government. He further questioned the government’s strategic preparedness, citing inadequate intelligence coordination and weak enforcement mechanisms.
“Galamsey is the biggest threat that can face the humanity of the Ghanaian people, and I am wondering why Mahama does not want to clamp it down. Galamsey has become so cancerous that we need to be able to nip it in the bud”
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security
According to him, the President has not only already received sufficient national security briefings to warrant bold action without further hesitation, but has the full support of the people to act on their behalf and shut down galamsey operations all over the country.
He took issue with President Mahama’s admission that he was currently acting on the advice of the National Security Council to stay the declaration of a state of emergency. “The next moment he would shift it from national security and say that he is waiting on advice from the Ghana Armed Forces. I think that the president should be bold now,” Dr. Boakye-Danquah said.
President John Dramani Mahama, during his engagement with civil society groups, maintained that his administration would not hesitate to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by illegal mining if the National Security Council advises it as necessary.
He, however, noted that the Council currently believes the ongoing fight against galamsey can be won through coordinated law enforcement, stakeholder collaboration, and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
The government has reiterated that its anti-galamsey strategy involves a combination of technological surveillance, community policing, and environmental restoration programmes aimed at curbing the menace without destabilising local economies.
Despite this assurance, critics like Dr. Boakye-Danquah continue to call for stronger executive action, insisting that the scale of environmental destruction already warrants an emergency declaration.
As the national conversation on illegal mining intensifies, attention remains on how President Mahama’s administration will balance political will, traditional authority, and civil advocacy in delivering lasting solutions to one of Ghana’s most persistent crises.
READ ALSO: Israel Deports Greta Thunberg, 170 Other Global Sumud Flotilla Activists
