The National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Salam Mustapha, has argued that declaring a state of emergency is not the solution to addressing the issue of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
His comments come in response to growing calls for the government to declare a state of emergency to tackle the destructive activities of galamsey across the country.
The environmental damage caused by illegal mining has prompted widespread concern, with numerous civil society organizations (CSOs), individuals, unions, and associations supporting the demand for decisive action.
While acknowledging the severe impact of galamsey on the country’s resources, Salam Mustapha emphasized that more sustainable and strategic approaches are needed to resolve the problem, rather than resorting to a state of emergency.
Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Thursday, Mustapha noted “I don’t see how a state of emergency solves the problem. I don’t see it being the solution. The solution is understanding it from the root. How come today a farmer can sell his cocoa [farm] to a galamseyer.
He further indicated that “There is more to it than just the periphery that we are attacking. So if we don’t come back, have a whole rethink of this thing then we will keep fighting.
“We will do about a year the thing goes down then the next year when no one is talking about it again it hits again. That back and forth doesn’t solve the problem.”
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