Declare state of emergency in galamsey-hit zones – Catholic Bishops urge gov’t
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) is urging the government to adopt far more radical measures in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), including the declaration of a state of emergency in high-risk mining areas.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its Annual Plenary Assembly held in Damongo in the Savannah Region, the Conference described the scale of ecological destruction caused by galamsey as “a profound moral crisis and a spiritual challenge.”
The Bishops stressed that a synodal Church recognises creation not as a resource to be exploited, but as “a covenantal partner deserving of respect and care.”
According to the communiqué, recent figures show Ghana has lost more than 5,252 hectares of forest reserves to illegal mining in 2025 alone, while 44 out of 288 forest reserves are now considered degraded. An estimated 75% of the country’s rivers are polluted, largely due to mercury and cyanide used in unregulated mining operations.
While acknowledging initiatives such as the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Bishops said the scale of devastation demands a more aggressive national response.
They called on President John Dramani Mahama to announce tougher interventions, including:
- 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
The GCBC also commended chiefs and queen mothers who have taken bold stands against illegal mining in their communities, urging others to follow suit.
They further appealed to all citizens to take ownership of the fight, saying Ghana’s land and water bodies must be “sanitised and healed” for the sake of current and future generations.
