Executive Convenor of the Dynamic Youth Movement of Ghana, Edward Tutor, has criticized President John Dramani Mahama for refusing to declare a state of emergency over illegal mining, describing his stance as misguided and influenced by poor counsel. He urged the President to dismiss his advisors immediately.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Friday, October 3, Tutor disputed Mahama’s claim that the National Security Council must advise on declaring a state of emergency, arguing that such a requirement is not supported by the 1992 Constitution.
“We have a 1992 Constitution that regulates everything in this country — including the President,” Tutor said. “Article 31 is clear. It is the Council of State and Parliament that the President must consult — not the National Security Council. They are completely out of the equation.”
His comments came after President Mahama, during a stakeholder engagement in Accra, stated that he would only declare a state of emergency on illegal mining — commonly known as galamsey — based on the advice of the National Security Council. The President maintained that current legal and security measures were sufficient to address the crisis.
Tutor, however, rejected this position, insisting that the galamsey menace constitutes a national emergency threatening Ghana’s environment, water bodies, and long-term survival.
“If you’re saying you’re depending on the advice of your National Security Council, that is misinformation,” he asserted. “Mr. President, anyone advising you not to declare a state of emergency is misleading you, and you must fire them immediately.”
He emphasized that the Constitution clearly outlines the process: the President must take the initiative, consult the Council of State, and then seek approval from Parliament by a two-thirds majority.
“This is no longer the time for talk,” Tutor stressed. “The situation demands decisive action to protect the nation’s future.”
Source:Africa Publicity
