The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has urged President John Dramani Mahama to establish specialised courts to speed up the prosecution of illegal miners and those who support them, cautioning that the galamsey crisis has escalated to a national emergency level. In a statement signed by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, on Monday, September 15, 2025, the Bishops described galamsey as “one of the gravest afflictions of our time,” highlighting its devastating impact on rivers, forests, farmlands, and public health.
The statement noted, “It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fabric, and destroys livelihoods. This is not a routine challenge that can be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring a decisive and extraordinary response.”
The Bishops warned that rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Offin, and Ayensu have been contaminated with mercury and other toxins, with turbidity levels exceeding the treatment capacity of the Ghana Water Company. Additionally, forests and farmlands have been stripped bare, and dangerous pits continue to pose serious hazards to local communities.
Highlighting the need for swift and effective legal action, the GCBC urged the government to set up specialised courts, saying this would allow faster prosecution of offenders and curb impunity. The Bishops emphasised that legal action must target not only small-scale miners but also politicians, chiefs, security officers, and other leaders who shield illegal operations. “This betrayal of trust cuts to the very marrow of our national identity. We call such leaders to repentance without delay,” the statement said.
The Bishops also recommended the creation of a permanent, corruption-proof task force made up of security agencies, environmental experts, and local authorities to ensure consistent enforcement of laws. Other measures included curfews in volatile mining zones, revision of mining laws with stiffer penalties, afforestation programmes, and alternative livelihoods for those driven to illegal mining by poverty.
Describing galamsey as a public health and national security threat, the GCBC highlighted that toxins from illegal mining are entering the food chain, contributing to cancers and neurological disorders, while criminal networks profit and violent conflicts escalate in mining areas. The Bishops appealed to all Ghanaians to resist the lure of quick wealth, urging chiefs, politicians, religious leaders, and security agencies to uphold their responsibilities.
“This struggle is not merely about law enforcement. It concerns the very soul of Ghana. It is about whether we choose life or death, blessing or curse,” the statement said. Concluding their message, the Bishops called on the government to act decisively. “With God’s grace, let us choose life, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations yet unborn,” the statement urged.
Source: Jonathan Adjei
