'Our ability or inability to fight illegal mining can affect Mahama's government' - Inusah Fuseini

A former Minister of Roads and Highways and former MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, is urging the government to make an immediate declaration of a state of emergency over Ghana’s forests and water bodies, citing the devastating environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities.

Speaking on JoyNews on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Fuseini said that more delays in taking a stringent action could have serious political consequences for President John Mahama’s administration, potentially undermining public confidence and the government’s environmental credibility.

“The level of destruction is no longer tolerable. If there’s anything that will affect us as a government in this term of John Dramani Mahama, it will be our ability or inability to fight illegal small-scale mining,” he stated.

He also argued that a state of emergency would empower the government to suspend all mining rights — both legal and illegal — to allow for a comprehensive cleanup and restoration of damaged ecosystems.

“When you declare a state of emergency, you freeze all rights. That’s the only way to stop the bleeding,” he said.

Fuseini further pointed out the health consequences of polluted rivers and toxic chemicals, noting rising cases of kidney diseases, birth defects, and other illnesses linked to contaminated water sources.

“We are heading toward a public health crisis that our hospitals may not be able to handle,” he warned.

He further recalled the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) campaign promise to declare a state of emergency and repeal Legislative Instrument (LI) 2462, which currently permits mining in forest reserves.

According to Fuseini, fulfilling that pledge is a matter of moral and political integrity.

The former minister, known for his long-standing environmental advocacy, called for swift government action to avoid nationwide protests and restore public trust.

“The demonstrations may not become necessary anymore if the president acts decisively,” he added.

Citing international examples of environmental collapse, Fuseini urged Ghanaians to protect natural resources not only for today, but also for future generations, invoking the principle of intergenerational equity.

VA/AE