Former Minister of Roads and Highways and former MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has issued a strong warning to President John Dramani Mahama, urging the immediate declaration of a state of emergency over Ghana’s forests and water bodies, amid worsening environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities.
Speaking on Joy News on Saturday, Mr Fuseini stated that further delays in taking decisive action could have serious political consequences for the Mahama administration, potentially undermining public confidence and the government’s environmental credibility.
“The level of destruction is no longer tolerable,” Fuseini emphasized. “If there’s anything that will affect us as a government in this term of John Dramani Mahama, it will be our ability or inability to fight illegal small-scale mining.”
He argued that a state of emergency would empower the government to suspend all mining rights—both legal and illegal—to allow for a comprehensive cleanup and restoration of damaged ecosystems. “When you declare a state of emergency, you freeze all rights. That’s the only way to stop the bleeding,” he said.
Mr Fuseini also pointed out the health consequences of polluted rivers and toxic chemicals, noting rising cases of kidney disease, birth defects, and other illnesses linked to contaminated water sources. “We are heading toward a public health crisis that our hospitals may not be able to handle,” he warned.
He further recalled the opposition National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) campaign promise to declare a state of emergency and repeal Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2462, which currently permits mining in forest reserves. According to Fuseini, fulfilling that pledge is a matter of moral and political integrity.
The former minister, known for his long-standing environmental advocacy, called for swift government action to avoid nationwide protests and restore public trust. “The demonstrations may not become necessary anymore if the President acts decisively,” he added.
Citing international examples of environmental collapse, Fuseini urged Ghanaians to protect natural resources not only for today, but also for future generations, invoking the principle of intergenerational equity.
