The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, along with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana, have petitioned President Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency amidst the illegal mining crisis, commonly known as galamsey.
The petition was presented on Friday, October 11 after the church led an “Environmental Prayer Walk” against the extensive environmental damage.
The Deputy Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Aduamoa Bossman received the petition on behalf of the President.
With a focus on the pollution of water bodies and the destruction of farmlands, the walk was to raise awareness and beseech divine intervention.
The church has expressed deep concern over the failure of previous efforts to halt galamsey, noting that numerous communiqués from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference have been ignored.
The petition highlighted the urgent need for decisive government action, given the devastating impact of galamsey on the environment, agriculture, and public health.
The church cited the severe pollution of major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Densu, Tano, Offin, and Birim, rendering them undrinkable and unfit for agricultural use alongside the health risks posed by the use of harmful chemicals like mercury.
Aside the call for a declaration of a state of emergency, the church also proposed the moratorium on issuing new mining licenses and a repeal of the legislation allowing mining in forest reserves and for perpetrators of illegal mining to face the full force of the law, without fear or favour.
It further called for a transparent, community-led effort to reclaim destroyed lands and restore polluted water bodies with chiefs playing a leading role.
Recognising that many illegal miners are driven by economic desperation, the Church urged the government to invest in alternative livelihood programs, particularly in agriculture, to provide sustainable employment opportunities for those currently engaged in galamsey.
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