The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference is calling on President John Mahama to immediately declare a state of emergency in regions devastated by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a strongly worded pastoral letter, the bishops described the illegal mining crisis as a national catastrophe that is destroying the environment, endangering public health, and corroding the moral and political fabric of the country.
“Galamsey ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods, the bishops warned that the crisis cannot be treated as a routine challenge, insisting it demands a decisive and extraordinary national response,” the statement read.
They described the scale of environmental destruction as a “profound betrayal” of humanity’s God-given responsibility to protect creation.
The bishops cited alarming data showing that rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, and Ayensu are contaminated with mercury and other toxic chemicals.
In one example, the Ayensu River recorded a turbidity level of 32,000 NTU, far exceeding the Ghana Water Company’s treatment capacity of 2,500 NTU.
“To desecrate creation through galamsey is not only an offence against our neighbour; it is a grave sin against God Himself, the Creator and Owner of all,” they declared.
The bishops also highlighted the human toll of galamsey, including farmers losing their lands, children abandoning school to work in dangerous pits, and entire communities suffering from cancers, skin diseases, kidney failure, and other illnesses due to polluted water and food.
They warned that galamsey has become a cancer in the national soul, one that corrodes politics, governance, and public conscience.
They did not spare those in positions of power, accusing some politicians, local authorities, traditional leaders, and even security personnel of being complicit either by shielding illegal miners or by granting them unlawful concessions.
Despite repeated public outcry, the bishops said, the government’s response has been slow, inadequate, and disappointing.
“The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now not tomorrow, not later is the time to act,” they urged.
The Conference called on President Mahama to back the emergency declaration with a comprehensive national strategy, including revised mining laws, the creation of special environmental courts, a corruption-resistant task force, and viable, sustainable alternatives for those driven to galamsey by poverty.
“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.
