The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has dismissed calls for a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, known as galamsey.
He has labelled such measures as "draconian and far-reaching."
At a media engagement in Accra, Jinapor acknowledged the widespread frustration over the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
However, he cautioned that declaring a state of emergency could have unintended repercussions on the economy, livelihoods, and governance.
READ ALSO: Organised labour threatens strike over Galamsey by end of September
“Declaring a state of emergency, that is in the bosom of the president, but I find that being far-reaching, [being] a very draconian measure to take,” he said. “We will engage him and have this conversation, and I believe out of that, we may need to come up with some consensus that we can work with.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS), The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and other civil society organisations all have called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to ban all illegal mining activities and declare a state of emergency in mining communities.
On September 11, Organised Labour warned the government of a potential nationwide strike by the end of the month if decisive action is not taken to combat the escalating galamsey crisis.
Mr. Jinapor, while recognising the urgency of the situation, underscored the importance of a balanced approach.
“The fight against galamsey remains one of the government’s top priorities, but extreme measures could lead to deeper social and economic instability,” he warned.
He reassured the public that government would continue to engage with labour unions and civil society groups to find a more sustainable solution.
“We will engage with all stakeholders to find a common ground on how to tackle this menace without resorting to extreme measures,” he added.