67% Ghanaians say Gov’t Not Doing Enough to Protect Water and Forests – APL Polls
Overwhelming public demand has emerged for decisive government action against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, with 76.3 percent of Ghanaians calling on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency on the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.
This was revealed in a new nationwide poll conducted by Africa Policy Lens (APL). The findings were released by Dr. George Domfe, President of APL and Development Economist at the University of Ghana, together with Dr. Eric Boakye Yiadom, Director of Publicity at APL and a Financial Economist at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
The survey, which followed President Mahama’s Meet the Press engagement on September 10, 2025, sought to gauge public opinion on the government’s approach to combating galamsey. Conducted between September 16 and September 21, the poll engaged 6,247 adults drawn from the certified 2024 voter register. According to the researchers, this ensured a “nationally representative sample” of Ghanaian voices on one of the country’s most pressing environmental challenges
Water Quality
The findings show a near-universal level of concern about the state of Ghana’s water bodies. A staggering 98.3 percent of respondents indicated they are worried about declining water quality due to illegal mining and deforestation, compared to just 1.7 percent who said they were not concerned
“This concern reflects growing public awareness of the environmental consequences of illegal mining and deforestation, particularly their impact on freshwater ecosystems and forest reserves,” the report stated.
Dissatisfaction
The poll also revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s current approach. Nearly two-thirds of Ghanaians, representing 67.1 percent of respondents, said they are dissatisfied with measures taken so far to protect water bodies and forests, while only 32.9 percent expressed satisfaction
Similarly, 58.2 percent of citizens believe the government is not doing enough to combat illegal mining and its environmental impacts, with only 41.8 percent expressing confidence in existing interventions.
Call for State of Emergency
When asked directly whether declaring a state of emergency would help curb environmental devastation, 76.3 percent of Ghanaians responded affirmatively, suggesting that a large majority view such a declaration as more than symbolic. Instead, they see it as a potentially transformative step that could enforce regulations and signal political will.
“The sentiment suggests that a significant majority of the population views such a declaration not merely as symbolic but as a potentially transformative policy measure,” APL noted in its conclusion
Political Barriers
Despite this overwhelming demand, public skepticism remains about whether the President will act. Two in three Ghanaians, representing 67 percent of respondents, believe political considerations are the main barrier preventing the declaration of a state of emergency. A further 22.4 percent cited threats to livelihoods, while 10.6 percent argued there was insufficient evidence of environmental damage to justify such a drastic measure
This, the report warned, underscores “a trust deficit in political leadership and raises critical questions about the alignment between public environmental priorities and executive decision-making.”
Education and Demographics
The survey also provided insights into the demographic composition of respondents. Of those who participated, 87 percent were male and 13 percent female. Educationally, 77.8 percent had attained post-secondary qualifications, while 18.3 percent had completed high school. The remainder had only basic education or none at all.
