Galamsey: Catholic Church petitions Akufo-Addo to declare state of emergency
The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, along with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana, has called on President Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency to combat the rampant destruction caused by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The call comes after the Church on Friday, October 11 led an "Environmental Prayer Walk" against the extensive environmental damage, particularly the pollution of water bodies and destruction of farmlands, to raise awareness and beseech divine intervention.
In a petition addressed to the President, the Church expressed deep concern over the failure of previous efforts to curb illegal mining, 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 petition mentioned the severe pollution of major rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Densu, Tano, Offin, and Birim, rendering them undrinkable and unfit for agricultural use.
The Church also highlighted the health risks posed by the use of harmful chemicals like mercury in illegal mining, which has contaminated water sources and food supplies, leading to long-term health complications.
Despite existing environmental protection laws, enforcement has been weak, with corruption, complicity from certain politicians and chiefs, and a lack of political will allowing illegal mining to persist unchecked.
In light of this, the Church urged the government to act swiftly and comprehensively, framing the galamsey crisis as a social, economic, and national security issue.
They called for several immediate actions, including the declaration of a state of emergency on illegal mining, which would include a 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.
The Church called for a transparent, community-led effort to reclaim destroyed lands and restore polluted water bodies, with chiefs playing a leading role in this process and called for a political campaign against galamsey, urging all presidential and parliamentary candidates to publicly commit to fighting illegal mining.
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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