The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued a passionate call for the government to declare a state of emergency to tackle the severe impact of illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey,” on the country’s water bodies and natural resources.
Rev. Fr. Michael K. A. Quaicoe, Director for Governance, Justice, and Peace for the Conference, made the appeal during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, September 11, stressing that the time for mere words has passed.
“This is the time for righteous anger,” Rev. Fr. Quaicoe asserted.
“We have watched for too long as our water bodies and natural resources are destroyed, and diseases spread due to the sheer greed and indifference of a few. We must stand up and act.”
The Bishops’ Conference has been a vocal opponent of illegal mining, which they describe as a crime against Ghana’s ecosystem and its people.
Rev. Fr. Quaicoe emphasized that the recent communiqué released by the bishops is not just a statement but a call to action that will be communicated down to parishes and local communities, where concrete actions will be taken to protect the environment from further destruction.
“We are beyond speaking; we are galvanizing our base,” he continued.
“Together with bodies like the Coalition Against Galamsey, we will push for serious action and put pressure on those who have the power to make the necessary decisions immediately.”
The call for action comes on the heels of a press conference where the Federation and other civil society organizations and unions gave the government an 18-day ultimatum to address the menace of illegal mining or face a withdrawal of services.
Rev. Fr. Quaicoe reiterated that if the President does not declare a state of emergency, ban all forms of mining on water bodies and in forest reserves, and deploy security forces to seize and destroy mining equipment, there would be widespread protests involving organised labour and other sectors of society.
“We will not stop. We will make our voices heard, and we will mobilize across all sectors to demand action,” Rev. Fr. Quaicoe said.
“We believe in lawful and sensible measures, but we are not going to stop until this issue is addressed. This thing has to stop, and it has to stop now.”
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, alongside other civil society groups, plans to continue raising awareness and rallying public support to protect the country’s environment, urging the government to act decisively against illegal mining operations that threaten the nation’s water bodies, forests, and the health of its people.