Catholic Bishops Urge Government to Declare State of Emergency in Galamsey Zones

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has called on the government to immediately declare a state of emergency in areas severely affected by illegal mining, warning that galamsey has become both a moral and spiritual crisis for the country.

In a communiqué issued after its Annual Plenary Assembly in Damongo, the Bishops stressed that the scale of environmental destruction demands urgent and decisive action from President John Dramani Mahama. They emphasised that the environment is “a covenantal partner deserving of respect,” not a resource to be recklessly exploited.

The GCBC highlighted alarming figures showing the severity of the situation: over 5,252 hectares of forest reserves have been destroyed this year, 44 out of 288 forest reserves are now classified as degraded, and about 75% of Ghana’s rivers are polluted due to mercury and cyanide from illegal mining.

While acknowledging initiatives such as the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), the Bishops said current measures remain inadequate. They called for tougher enforcement, including swift, impartial prosecution of offenders, regardless of political ties, and full reclamation of degraded lands.

They also urged the government to ensure transparent national reporting on water quality, forest cover, and food safety to rebuild public trust.

The Bishops commended traditional leaders who have taken strong stands against galamsey and encouraged others to join the fight. They further appealed to citizens to help “sanitise and heal” the country’s lands and water bodies for future generations.

Their statement adds to growing national pressure for a stronger, more coordinated response to illegal mining and its mounting threats to livelihoods, public health, and national security.