The Coalition Against Galamsey is asking President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas badly affected by illegal mining.

According to the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the situation has gone beyond control and requires urgent action to save lives and protect the environment.

He explained that the Constitution allows a state of emergency to be declared when the actions of criminals threaten essential resources such as water, safety, and the survival of communities.

He said illegal miners were destroying water bodies and depriving large communities of clean drinking water, which is an “essential of life.”

Dr. Ashigbey stressed that the call was not for the entire country, but only for parts of Ghana where the destruction is severe.

He added that declaring a state of emergency in these areas will give government the legal power to act quickly and decisively.

He also called on the President to provide clear timelines and targets to guide the fight against galamsey.

This, he said, would help demonstrate government’s seriousness and commitment to ending the menace.

The Coalition insisted that declaring a state of emergency was no longer a last resort but an immediate step needed to save Ghanaians and protect the future of the country.

By: Jacob Aggrey

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to remain non-partisan in the discharge of its duties.

He said the credibility of the legal profession would be at risk if the bar allowed itself to be influenced by political interests.

Speaking at the GBA 2025/ 2026 annual general conference, Dr. Ayine reminded members that their first allegiance was to the Constitution and the Republic, not to any government or opposition party.

He stressed that for over three decades, the GBA had played an important role in helping the Supreme Court interpret and enforce the law, but outside the courtroom, its advocacy had often lacked consistency.

Dr. Ayine pointed to past cases such as the 2015 petition against the former CHRAJ Chairperson, Loretta Lamptey, and the 2017 petition for the removal of Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, where the bar remained silent.

He noted that the association only found its voice during the petition against former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, a stance he said coincided with the position of the opposition.

He questioned why the bar acted differently in those situations, especially since all three cases involved women of repute who held positions in key constitutional bodies.

Dr. Ayine urged the GBA to be the conscience of the republic, saying lawyers must defend the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of citizens regardless of which political party was in power.

He warned against inviting foreign interference in Ghana’s constitutional matters, saying international collaboration should be limited to professional exchanges and not politics.

He further encouraged the GBA to promote integrity among its members, strengthen pro bono services to support the poor, and embrace digital reforms such as e-filing and electronic court records to modernize the justice system.

According to him, the destiny of Ghana is tied to the integrity of the legal profession.

He added that if lawyers stand firm, the country will also stand firm, but if they falter, the republic will stumble.

By: Jacob Aggrey