By Ashiadey Dotse
The Head of Media Relations at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwasi Schandorf, has said that declaring a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, or galamsey, without implementing concrete and effective policies will not solve the problem.
Speaking in an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Thursday, July 31, 2025, he explained that while the call for a state of emergency is a strong and important suggestion, it will only bring real change if it is backed by serious planning and clear action on the ground.
“You can make all the noise politically, and it may look good in the media, but without the right systems in place, nothing meaningful will come out of it,” he said.
Mr Schandorf used a simple analogy to illustrate his point: someone who promises to stop stealing but still holds on to their gun and remains in the same gang is only pretending to change. In the same way, he said, a government that declares a state of emergency without addressing the root causes of illegal mining is merely putting on a show.
He argued that rushing to declare a state of emergency just to impress the public is not the right approach.
“We are not in this for political applause or praise from the public. What matters is real action and results,” he stressed.
According to Mr Schandorf, the Ministry is focusing on policies that are already yielding positive results. In just six months, several forest reserves previously occupied by heavily armed illegal miners have been reclaimed. He said this progress shows that the level of threat that initially prompted calls for emergency action has since declined.
He acknowledged that when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) pushed for a state of emergency in the past, the situation at the time warranted it. But now, with forest lands reclaimed and illegal operations reduced, it makes more sense to focus on building strong, sustainable systems rather than making symbolic declarations.
Mr Schandorf clarified that declaring a state of emergency is not completely off the table. If the situation worsens or new threats emerge, the government will re-evaluate and may consider that option again.
“It’s not about rejecting the idea entirely, but about choosing the right time and having the right tools in place to make it effective,” he added.
Responding to critics who accuse the NDC of shifting its stance after coming into power, Mr Schandorf said such views ignore the progress made. He explained that the NDC’s call for a state of emergency became stronger toward the end of the previous administration, when illegal mining had reached alarming levels. But the conditions that once justified that demand, such as armed groups occupying forest reserves, have now been largely addressed.
“Our approach is to fix the system first. If we succeed with the policies we’re rolling out now, a formal state of emergency may not even be needed, because the problem will already be under control,” he said.
