State of Emergency Should Be the Last Option in Galamsey Fight — Zongo Dev’t Fund CEO
The 2025 Bissa Sukuma Festival, organized by the Bissa Development Association in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Council of Bissa Chiefs, once again became a platform for community leaders and dignitaries to call for unity, environmental protection, and collective progress. The annual event, which draws Bissas from across Ghana, emphasized the need for responsible citizenship and sustainable development.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund, Alhaji Halidu Haruna, has urged Ghanaians to support the government’s ongoing fight against illegal mining (galamsey) while cautioning that the declaration of a state of emergency should only be considered as a last resort
Speaking at the festival, he said the President is not ruling out that option but remains committed to exploring all available measures to curb the menace.
“His Excellency is not ruling out the declaration of a state of emergency, but that will certainly be the last resort when all other avenues fail. For now, we must allow government to tap other strategies, such as declaring galamsey zones as security areas. The government deserves commendation for retrieving large portions of our forest reserves that were once destroyed by illegal mining,” he emphasized.
Alhaji Halidu further highlighted the environmental impact of galamsey, stressing that protecting Ghana’s forests and water bodies is key to human survival.
He said, “Our very survival depends on the existence of trees. When the last tree dies, the last man dies. People must understand that destroying forests and water bodies endangers our future. Trees help balance nature by taking in carbon dioxide and giving us oxygen — without them, life itself is at risk.”
He commended ongoing efforts by the government and assured that the fight against galamsey will continue until the environment is fully restored.
By Bawa Musah
