The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has admonished the government to declare a state of emergency in high-risk mining areas.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of its Annual Plenary Assembly in Damongo, Savannah Region, the Conference views the scale of ecological destruction caused by galamsey as a profound moral crisis and spiritual challenge.
The Conference noted that available figures indicate Ghana has lost over 5,252 hectares of forest reserves to illegal mining in 2025 alone, with 44 out of 288 forest reserves now considered degraded.
Furthermore, an estimated 75% of the country’s rivers are polluted, primarily due to mercury and cyanide used in unregulated mining operations. Despite the efforts of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, the Conference emphasized the need for the government to intensify its efforts.
The Conference also appealed to all citizens to take ownership of the fight, stressing that Ghana’s land and water bodies must be sanitized and healed for the sake of current and future generations.
They have submitted the following request:
- A state of emergency in high-risk illegal mining zones
- Swift and impartial prosecution of offenders, regardless of political ties
- Full reclamation of lands destroyed by illegal and irresponsible mining
- Transparent national reporting on water quality, forest cover, and food safety
By: Rainbowradionline.com/Ghana