Founder and CEO of the MILLS Institute, Koku Anyidoho, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey.

In a post shared on his X page on Monday, September 29, 2025, he stressed that declaring forest reserves and river bodies as security zones is sufficient to confront the situation.

"The whole of Ghana is now collectively at apocalyptic risk levels because of galamsey’s ecocidal devastation. A state of emergency (not just security zones) is needed NOW," he wrote.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced that all forest reserves and river bodies have been declared security zones to protect them from galamsey.

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He also outlined the Ministry’s five-pronged strategy to fight galamsey, which includes strict enforcement, engagement and education, provision of alternative livelihoods, technological innovation, and institutional coordination.

Meanwhile, President Mahama has stated that his government is not in a hurry to declare a state of emergency in the fight against galamsey.

Speaking at a media encounter on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, he acknowledged the growing public pressure to take drastic measures against the menace but cautioned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.

'Mother Ghana has reached the breaking point' – Koku Anyidoho calls for state of emergency on galamsey

“I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we have not yet exhausted the powers we already have without it.

“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any illegal equipment. The laws for forest protection and related regulations give us enough authority to act," he noted.

Read his post below:

The whole of Ghana 🇬🇭 is now collectively at apocalyptic risk levels because of Galamsey’s ecocidal devastation. State of emergency (not security zones), is needed NOW🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/vA1PWuGn8I

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) September 29, 2025