The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has renewed its appeal to the government to declare a state of emergency to address illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, warning that the worsening situation demands urgent and decisive action. The President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, said the government must strengthen its efforts to combat illegal mining to protect public health, the environment and the livelihoods of Ghanaians.
In an interview with Citi News, he cautioned that the impact of galamsey goes beyond environmental destruction, posing serious threats to water bodies, the food chain and human health. “ You cannot stop fighting galamsey. It is poisonous and very dangerous, creating other sicknesses, introducing illegal drugs into the water system, the food chain and etc,” he said.
Most Rev. Gyamfi called on the government to demonstrate greater resolve in confronting the menace, arguing that the scale of the crisis justifies extraordinary interventions. He said the President, having sworn an oath to protect and defend the country, must take more decisive steps in situations that threaten the safety and well-being of citizens.
“Since the President of Ghana held the sword and swore to protect and defend Ghana, we should see him do certain things radically and these are situations where we say a state of emergency should be declared on this deplorable and wicked situation so that Ghanaians will be seen to be really and clearly defended,” he stated.
The Conference maintains that the far-reaching consequences of illegal mining require a coordinated and decisive national response to protect affected communities and prevent further damage. Most Rev. Gyamfi reiterated that tackling galamsey would require sustained political commitment and firm enforcement measures to curb the growing threat to Ghana’s environment and the health and livelihoods of its people.
