President John Dramani Mahama says his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

While he acknowledged growing public pressure for tougher measures, the president cautioned against taking such a drastic step prematurely.

According to him, existing laws already gave the government enough power to tackle the menace effectively.

He emphasised that since returning to office, his administration had not granted a single mining licence for operations within Ghana’s forest reserves.

He also announced intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, which continues to pose a serious threat to Ghana’s environment and natural resources.

On the state of governance, President Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to democracy, insisting he had no intention of becoming an autocrat. His comments come amid public concerns that he was consolidating too much power, particularly after securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament and following the recent removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo. These concerns have grown louder following petitions seeking the removal of Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa and her two deputies.

The president dismissed such claims, assuring Ghanaians that he remained fully dedicated to upholding democratic principles and the rule of law.

Turning to economic matters, President Mahama confirmed that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) had ended its interventions in the foreign exchange market.

He said the central bank was now allowing the cedi to adjust freely based on market forces.

Previous interventions, he explained, were necessary to avoid sharp declines that made economic planning difficult. With the new approach, the president expressed confidence that the government’s policies would help manage future depreciation and restore stability.

Addressing concerns over rising utility costs, the president clarified reports about a proposed 200 percent increase in electricity tariffs by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

He explained that while ECG and other utility companies may submit such proposals, it did not mean the increase would automatically be approved, while the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) was the body responsible for reviewing and approving such proposals.

President Mahama urged the public to remain calm, reiterating that proposals like ECG’s were subject to rigorous scrutiny and final approval by the regulator.