Catholic Bishops encourage gov’t to address galamsey head-on and to stop giving lip service

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged the government to take concrete action against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, instead of just paying lip service.

In a statement issued on September 11, the Conference called on the government to employ all available means to halt these illegal activities, enforce existing laws, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure that those involved face the full force of the law without fear or favour.

The Bishops emphasised the need for a collective effort to address the environmental degradation and social catastrophe caused by galamsey.

They urged various stakeholders, including the government, legislature, judiciary, media, civil society, chiefs, and religious leaders, to unite in the fight against illegal mining.

The Conference also advocated for sustainable mining practices, recognising that mining is an important part of Ghana’s economy.

They called on both large-scale and small-scale mining companies to operate responsibly and adhere to environmental regulations .

Additionally, the Bishops recommended alternative livelihood programmes for individuals engaged in galamsey, citing economic desperation as a driving factor.

They also urged political leaders to make public commitments against galamsey in their campaigns

“Immediate and Decisive Action by Government: We urge the government to stop the lips service in fighting galamsey by employing all available means to halt illegal mining activities.

This includes
enforcing existing laws, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring that those involved in
illegal mining face the full force of the law without fear or favour.”

“Education and Awareness Campaigns: We call on the media, civil society organizations, and religious bodies to amplify education and awareness campaigns on the devastating effects of illegal mining.

Communities must be empowered to understand the long-term consequences of galamsey.

“Restoration of Affected Areas: We urge the government to prioritize the reclamation of destroyed lands and the restoration of polluted water bodies.

This process must involve local communities, led by the Chiefs and be transparent to ensure the recovery of the environment.

We recommend strongly, a temporal moratorium on all licensed community mining activities.”