Christian Council urges govt to deploy more military, police to fight galamsey

The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has called for tougher enforcement of laws against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, urging the government to deploy additional security personnel and resources to protect the country's water bodies and farmlands.

Chairman of the Council, Rev. Enoch Nii Narh Thompson, said efforts to combat illegal mining must move beyond public education and dialogue to include firm enforcement of existing laws.

Speaking to Citi News, Rev. Thompson, who is also the Executive President of the Ghana Baptist Convention, described galamsey as an environmental and public health threat that requires the active involvement of the Church.

“If the water bodies that the people drink from are polluted, and the soil is poisoned, it is a business of the Church,” he said.

He disclosed that the Christian Council had engaged the government on the issue on several occasions, including meetings with President John Dramani Mahama.

Rev. Thompson called on policymakers and law enforcement agencies to intensify the fight against illegal mining by increasing the deployment of the military, police and specialised agencies to affected areas.

He also advocated the recruitment or deployment of more personnel to strengthen enforcement operations and ensure that illegal mining activities are effectively tackled.

“The way forward is for policymakers and implementers to use the resources available to them to tackle the issues head-on. The use of the military, the police and specialised agencies must be increased. More people must be engaged to serve in those areas,” he said.

The CCG Chairman stressed that while engaging mining communities through dialogue remained important, such efforts must be complemented by strict enforcement of the law.

“Whilst we talk with people, we must also enforce the laws so that the menace could be brought to an end,” he said.