Ghanaian Bishops Demand Radical Action Against Galamsey; Call for State of Emergency in High-Risk Mining Zones

Members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference have renewed its strongest call for a decisive national action against illegal mining (galamsey), describing the ongoing environmental devastation as a “moral and spiritual crisis” that threatens Ghana’s future.

This call formed a major highlight of the communiqué issued at the end of the 2025 Plenary Assembly held in Damongo.

According to the data presented in the communiqué, Ghana lost over 5,252 hectares of forest reserves in 2025 due to illegal mining activities, with 75% of the nation’s rivers now polluted by mercury, cyanide, and other toxic chemicals.

The Bishops acknowledged government efforts such as the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) but stressed that the scale of destruction now warrants more radical intervention, including declaring a state of emergency in high-risk mining communities, ensuring the swift and impartial prosecution of perpetrators regardless of political affiliation, full reclamation of destroyed lands and transparent reporting on water and forest conditions.

The communiqué also praised the courage of Chiefs and Queen Mothers who have resisted illegal mining pressures and protected their lands, some of whom the Bishops engaged during their courtesy visits earlier in the week.

Earlier in the week, the Bishops toured the Mole National Park, where they reflected on creation care and the urgent need to protect Ghana’s natural heritage, a theme that strongly informed their closing statement.

The Bishops urged every Ghanaian to see the fight against galamsey as a shared moral duty, warning that water bodies, forests, and farmlands cannot be restored once permanently damaged.

They concluded with a passionate appeal, stating, “Until our land and waters are healed, the battle against galamsey must remain a national priority.”

By Celestine Edem Gbologah//Newswatchgh.com