The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately declare a state of emergency in areas devastated by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Bishops warned that galamsey has become “one of the gravest afflictions of our time,” ravaging rivers, forests, and farmlands while poisoning the nation’s food chain and water supply.
“This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the statement stressed.
The Bishops lamented that major rivers, including the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Offin, and Ayensu, have been contaminated with mercury and toxic effluents, with some reaching turbidity levels far beyond the capacity of the Ghana Water Company to treat.
They further cautioned that the destruction of fertile lands and forests has left farmers without livelihoods and exposed communities to grave health risks, including cancers, kidney failure, and neurological disorders.
Beyond the environmental and health impacts, the Bishops warned that galamsey has “matured into a threat to national security,” enriching criminal cartels, breeding lawlessness, and fueling violent conflicts in mining areas.
They accused some politicians, chiefs, security officers, and other public officials of complicity, either by shielding illegal operators or granting illicit concessions.
The statement expressed disappointment with President Mahama’s response to their earlier appeals, especially his recent dismissal of calls for a state of emergency during his “Meet the Press” session on September 10.
“Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act,” the Bishops charged.
They urged the government to go beyond declarations and adopt a holistic national strategy, including revising mining laws, imposing stiffer penalties, establishing special courts for expedited prosecutions, and constituting a permanent, corruption-proof task force to enforce regulations.
The Bishops also called for sustainable alternatives for those driven into illegal mining by poverty, such as regulated small-scale mining zones with environmental safeguards, as well as nationwide afforestation and reclamation programmes to heal destroyed lands and create jobs.
Above all, the Conference challenged the government to show courage by prosecuting not only the weak but also the powerful and well-connected. “Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed,” the statement declared.
Concluding with a biblical appeal, the Bishops urged all Ghanaians to reject the lure of quick riches at the expense of future generations, insisting that the galamsey menace “concerns the very soul of Ghana.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
