The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged President John Mahama to declare a Galamsey State of Emergency in Ghana, warning that the destruction caused by illegal mining has reached crisis levels. In their statement, the bishops described galamsey as a cancer that is destroying rivers, forests, and farmlands while putting millions of lives at risk. They stressed that the State of Emergency in Ghana cannot wait any longer, as the damage is poisoning water bodies, ruining livelihoods, and endangering public health.
According to the bishops, rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, and Ayensu are now filled with mercury and other dangerous chemicals, making them unsafe for drinking and farming. They noted that farmers are losing their lands, children are leaving school for illegal pits, and entire communities are exposed to diseases like kidney failure, cancer, and skin infections. The bishops warned that the crisis is not only environmental but also a moral failure, as leaders, chiefs, and even some security officials have been complicit in protecting illegal miners.
The State of Emergency in Ghana was described by the bishops as urgent but not enough on its own. They demanded that the government create a full national strategy to fight illegal mining. This should include stronger mining laws, special courts for prosecutions, a corruption-free task force, and sustainable alternatives for youth who turn to galamsey because of poverty. They also called for nationwide reforestation and land reclamation programmes to restore the environment and create jobs.
The bishops said that the fight must target not just poor miners but also powerful individuals who profit from the destruction. They urged President Mahama to show courage by prosecuting both the weak and the well-connected. Their message was clear: “The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now is the time to act.” The State of Emergency in Ghana was also backed by the Ghana National Catholic Laity Council, which described illegal mining as a national disaster threatening food security and national stability.
The lay council added that Ghana’s rivers, once sources of life, are now poisoned with mercury and cyanide. They warned that galamsey has become a national disaster and called for prosecutions, livelihood alternatives for youth, and a national programme to reclaim and restore degraded lands. Both the bishops and the council appealed to chiefs, politicians, security forces, and all citizens to put Ghana first and rise together to save the nation’s environment. Their warning is that without immediate action, the soul of Ghana itself is at risk.
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