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

Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has added his voice to calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

According to him, the scale of destruction caused by galamsey has pushed the country to its breaking point, making a state of emergency inevitable.

Taking to social media on September 27, 2025, Anyidoho shared a video of others making similar demands and wrote, "The nation has reached the breaking point and Mother Ghana is demanding nothing less than an immediate state of emergency."

Meanwhile, President John Mahama has reiterated that his administration will not rush into declaring a state of emergency, despite the mounting calls.

Speaking at a media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the President admitted that there is growing public pressure for stricter measures. However, he emphasised that existing laws already grant government agencies the necessary powers to address illegal mining.

"I have been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we've not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency," Mahama explained.

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He pointed out that security agencies already have the authority to arrest offenders, confiscate equipment, and enforce forest protection laws.

"We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act," he said.

"Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. For now, let's exercise all the powers we have, and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we will look at it," he added.

The nation has reached the breaking point and Mother Ghana 🇬🇭 is demanding nothing less than an immediate state of emergency 🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/Oz70oYEMzU

— Samuel Koku Anyidoho🇬🇭 (@KokuAnyidoho) September 27, 2025

AM/SEA

Also, watch some videos from the NPP’s protest below: