The Head of Media Relations at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwasi Schandorf, has cautioned that declaring a state of emergency to combat illegal mining—popularly known as galamsey—will be ineffective unless accompanied by concrete, well-planned interventions.
Speaking during an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Mr. Schandorf described the proposal as significant but emphasized that symbolic gestures without real action would do little to address the deep-rooted crisis.
“Calling for a state of emergency sounds powerful and makes headlines, but if it’s not backed by a clear, enforceable plan, it won’t change anything,” he said.
He warned against politically driven declarations that lack substance, adding, “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.”
