The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has criticised the National Security Council and other key advisory institutions for dragging their feet in providing crucial guidance to President Mahama on how to address the growing menace of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking on Morning Starr on with Naa Dedei Tettey on Starr 103.5 FM on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the Programme Manager for Security Sector Governance at CDD-Ghana, Paul Nana Kwabena Aborampah Mensah, said despite credible intelligence and clear mapping of illegal mining hotspots, state institutions have failed to act with the urgency the situation demands.
“I think the institution mandated, as the President referred to, is delaying on its advice to the President, especially when it was clear from the presentation by the sector minister indicating in the map of Ghana, some places declared as red zones — meaning it’s not even possible for the security agencies themselves to go and protect us in those zones,” he lamented.
He drew parallels to countries like Burkina Faso, where “red zones” are controlled by insurgents and inaccessible to state forces, warning that Ghana’s mining-affected areas could soon reach that level of insecurity if action is delayed.
Mr. Mensah stressed that while the President was right to rely on expert advice before making a declaration, the delay from these advisory bodies was undermining decisive government response.
“The President can’t just stand up and do it. That’s why he has expert advice – advice that’s put in place in certain agencies to guide him. But I feel those agencies are delaying based on the presentation, especially the one the security minister gave us,” he said.
His comments follow President Mahama’s recent dismissal of calls by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, civil society groups, and the opposition NPP for a national emergency declaration to combat galamsey.
At a civil society dialogue at the Jubilee House, the President maintained that while the Constitution allows him to declare a state of emergency, the National Security Council’s assessment was that the illegal mining crisis could still be addressed through existing institutional frameworks.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
