Marshallans Join Fight Against Galamsey

MEMBERS OF the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall of the Catholic Church of Ghana have waded into the fight against illegal mining in the country, encouraging government to sustain the battle in order to preserve the environment from further degradation.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 9^th Re-Union Conference on July 30, and jointly signed by Sir Kt. Bro. Ambrose Akyebe Yennah MRL, Sis. Grace Budu-Smith, Supreme Knight, Knights of Marshall Grand Lady and Ladies of Marshall, the Marshallans bemoaned the adverse effects of illegal mining popularly known as galamsey on the environment and water bodies nationwide.

Thus, the Catholic group has endorsed the government's determination to continue the fight against galamsey and environmental degradation.

It, however, urged “accordingly, we call on the government and all state agencies to enforce the requisite laws on the environment.”

In the communiqué made available to Daily Guide, members of the Knight and Ladies of Marshall resolved “to take necessary measures to contribute to the management and conservation of the environment based on an agreed plan of action.”

It said, “in this regard, we call on all our local branches (councils and courts) to formulate action plans in their areas that will deal with issues relating to the degradation of the environment.”

The theme of the conference was: Management and the Conservation of the Environment, and the communiqué explained that “Mother Earth is at risk through wanton human activities.”

It pointed out the group's determination to marshal all forces in West Africa for the management and the conservation of the environment.

“Looking at the state of the devastation of our environment, notably the destruction of the forests and woodlands, and the adverse effects of Galamsey on our water bodies and other natural resources, on our part, we pledge to work with societies and groups in combating crimes against the environment,” it added.

The communiqué stressed that “we are further inspired by the message of Laudato Si to adopt a comprehensive approach to the challenges facing the sustainable use of the world's natural resources. In this regard, we call on the church and our respective governments to consider the social, economic and environmental dimensions in our development efforts.”