The National Coordinator for the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has acknowledged that President John Dramani Mahama’s recent remarks on illegal mining (galamsey) during his media encounter did not sit well with some Ghanaians.
During the September 10, 2025, Presidential Media Encounter, the president was asked whether he would consider declaring a state of emergency in response to the environmental devastation caused by galamsey.
He replied that all legal options had not yet been exhausted, and a state of emergency would remain a last resort.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, September 11, Vanderpuye noted that the public had anticipated a more decisive 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 public disappointment, Vanderpuye defended the president’s position as measured and thoughtful.
“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.
Vanderpuye further emphasised that addressing illegal mining must be viewed 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,” he added.
