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Dr. Anthony Aubynn, Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, has expressed his disagreement with calls for a State of Emergency to combat illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
Speaking during an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Monday, April 28, Dr. Aubynn argued that the government already has the necessary tools to address the problem effectively and does not need to resort to emergency powers.
Responding to the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) 2024 campaign promise to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining if elected, Dr. Aubynn suggested that such a measure might be excessive.
“State of emergency, I don’t know if we need that, but we should have a way of stopping illegal mining. We have all the arsenals to do that. And I think the government is doing that,” he stated.
He acknowledged the complexity and deep-rooted nature of the galamsey issue, stressing that what is needed is a consistent and well-coordinated approach.
Highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts, Dr. Aubynn praised the work of the current Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
“The minister of lands and natural resources is doing it, sometimes he becomes emotional about it because of the gravity of the things he sees,” he said. “We have the resources and arsenals to reduce it in a way that people can live with.”
Dr. Aubynn’s remarks add to the national conversation on how best to tackle illegal mining, with opinions divided between strict emergency action and sustained enforcement using existing laws and institutions.
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