Mahama’s Response on Galamsey ‘Not Pleasing to Many’ – Vanderpuye

The National Coordinator for the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has admitted that President John Dramani Mahama’s comments on illegal mining (galamsey) during his recent media encounter did not resonate well with sections of the public.

At the September 10, 2025 Presidential Media Encounter, the President was asked whether he would consider declaring a state of emergency to tackle the environmental destruction caused by galamsey. In his response, he stressed that all legal tools available under existing laws had not yet been exhausted, making a state of emergency a last resort.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, September 11, Vanderpuye observed that many Ghanaians had expected a firmer stance.

“The only response that people were not too happy with was the President’s on galamsey. I think people came there expecting that he would accept and declare a state of emergency. But listening to various media houses and people’s reactions, it appears that is the one response many were not too happy about,” he said.

Despite the disappointment, Vanderpuye defended the President’s position as deliberate and carefully considered.

“I think that he handled it intelligently. He made it clear that indeed there could be a state of emergency, but that would be after he had exhausted all the opportunities and the legal regimes available to him as head of state. And indeed, we haven’t exhausted them yet—we still have many avenues to use,” he explained.

He further stressed that the fight against galamsey should be understood as a process rather than a one-off event.

“I never thought the fight against galamsey was going to be an event, but rather a process. There are a number of interventions in place, such as the Blue Water Guards and others. It tells you that there is a plan, except that the plans in place have not yet yielded the results people are expecting,” Vanderpuye added.