By Admin1

Copyright ghanaiantimes

The Ghana Catholic Bish-ops’ Conference (GCBC) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately declare a state of emergency in the country’s most affected mining areas, describ-ing illegal mining (galamsey) as a “national calamity” threatening the very soul of the nation.

The Bishops said galamsey had become one of the gravest afflic-tions of Ghana’s time, devastating rivers and forests, poisoning soils, endangering public health, under-mining governance, and destroying livelihoods.

In a statement signed by its President, Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani, and shared with The Ghanaian Times on Monday in Accra, the Bishops warned that galamsey was not only an environmental disaster but also “a grave sin against God,” as it desecrates creation and endangers future generations.

“The Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Of-fin, Ayensu and other once-pristine rivers are now laced with mercury and toxic effluents. Some have ceased to flow downstream, while others show turbidity levels so ex-treme that they defy purification,” the statement lamented.

The Conference expressed con-cern over the health implications of galamsey, citing rising cases of cancers, kidney failure, neurolog-ical disorders, and skin diseases linked to contaminated water and food sources.

It also noted the tragic toll on children who abandoned school to work in mining pits, with many losing their lives in avoidable accidents.

Beyond ecological damage, the Bishops accused politicians, chiefs, some religious leaders, and elements of the security services of complicity in the menace by shielding illegal operators for per-sonal gain.

“Galamsey has become a cancer in our national soul. It corrodes politics, corrodes governance, and corrodes conscience,” the statement said, warning that the activity now poses a direct threat to national security by enriching criminal cartels and fuelling violent conflicts.

The Bishops also criticised Pres-ident Mahama for what they de-scribed as an inadequate response, revealing that despite raising con-cerns with him earlier this year, the President dismissed calls for a state of emergency during his “Meet the Press” session on September 10.

According to the statement: “This is profoundly troubling. The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act.”

They, therefore, urged the government to declare a state of emergency in galamsey hotspots and around endangered water bodies, strengthen mining laws with harsher penalties, and estab-lish specialised courts for speedy prosecution.

They also called for the creation of a permanent, corruption-proof task force involving security agen-cies, environmental experts, and local authorities to ensure consis-tent enforcement.

At the same time, they empha-sised the need to provide sustain-able alternatives through regulated small-scale mining, land resto-ration, afforestation, and youth employment initiatives.

The Bishops stressed that prosecutions must target “not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected.”

Addressing the wider public, they called on Ghanaians to resist the lure of quick wealth, chiefs to uphold their custodial responsibil-ities, politicians to put the nation first, religious leaders to speak boldly, and security agencies to act with integrity.

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