Galamsey: Declare state of emergency – Catholic Bishops to gov't

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has renewed calls for the government to declare a state of emergency to address illegal mining, warning that the practice poses serious threats to public health, water bodies and the livelihoods of Ghanaians.

Conference President Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi said the scale of the galamsey crisis required stronger government commitment and more radical interventions to protect the country and its people.

Speaking to Citi News, he warned that the consequences of illegal mining went beyond environmental destruction, raising concerns about contamination of water sources and the food chain, as well as associated health risks.

“You cannot stop fighting galamsey. It is poisonous and very dangerous, creating other sicknesses, introducing illegal drugs into the water system, the food chain and etc,” he said.

Most Rev. Gyamfi argued that the government must demonstrate its commitment to protecting citizens by taking decisive action against the menace.

He said declaring a state of emergency would signal the seriousness with which authorities were treating the crisis and their determination to safeguard the country.

“Since the president of Ghana held the sword and swore to protect and defend Ghana, we should see him do certain things radically and these are situations where we say a state of emergency should be declared on this deplorable and wicked situation so that Ghanaians will be seen to be really and clearly defended,” he said.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference maintains that the threat posed by illegal mining requires a coordinated and sustained national response to protect affected communities and prevent further damage to the environment.

Most Rev. Gyamfi stressed that the government must pursue firm and consistent measures to address galamsey and safeguard the health and well-being of the population.