A lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Eric Kyeh Kwabena Abavare, has described President John Dramani Mahama as a swindler following the president’s recent media engagement on September 10, 2025.
According to the lecturer, the president’s response regarding illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, can only be described as deceptive. During the engagement, President Mahama stated his reluctance to declare a state of emergency to address galamsey, explaining that the nation has not yet exhausted the existing legal frameworks.
The president believes current laws provide sufficient authority to combat the issue effectively.
“I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency,” President Mahama explained.
“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.
Reacting to these remarks, Professor Abavare expressed his shock, noting that the president’s current stance is a stark contrast to his previous comments while in opposition.
He accused the government of being complicit and suggested that the president’s position was pre-planned, especially since National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah had also previously dismissed the idea of a state of emergency.
Professor Abavare stated, “I was shocked, disappointed, and was wondering what kind of response that was from President Mahama. While in opposition, President Mahama made political capital out of the galamsey issues. For someone who promised to declare a state of emergency against galamsey and mounted pressure on the previous government to do the same, and all of a sudden, he has changed his stance, it only points to one thing: deception.”
