The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has warned President John Mahama that illegal mining, aka galamsey, is destroying the nation’s environment, corroding its governance, and threatening the very soul of Ghana.
“Illegal and unregulated mining, commonly known as galamsey, has become one of the gravest afflictions of our time. It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods.
“This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the Bishops said.
The statement issued on Monday, September 15, was signed by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
They warned that Ghana’s once-pristine rivers, such as the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Offin, and Ayensu, are now polluted beyond recognition, with turbidity levels so extreme they defy purification.
“Once-verdant forests lie stripped to barren scars, while fertile farmlands are rendered sterile, punctured by deadly pits,” the statement added.
The Bishops said the impact was dire for farmers, households, and children lured into deadly mining pits.
“The poisons of mining seep silently into our food chain, breeding cancers, skin diseases, kidney failure, and neurological disorders,” they cautioned.
“The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act,” the bishops warned.
“We appeal to President Mahama to show the courage of leadership. His government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected,” the statement concluded.
Beyond the environmental disaster, they described galamsey as “a cancer in our national soul” that has corrupted politics, governance, and conscience.
Source:Lovinghananews.com
