“When will this nonsense be stopped?” – Archbishop of Accra demands end to destructive galamsey menace

The Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, has issued a passionate plea for an end to illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.

Addressing a gathering of Religious Priests, Brothers and Sisters as well as a section of the faithful at the Holy Spirit Cathedral on June 15, Archbishop Kwofie voiced deep concern over the environmental degradation caused by galamsey operations across Ghana.

He lamented, “When a nation reaches a point where its revered men and women who are brothers, priests, and women who are religious take to the streets, then the country is really in a problem.”

Highlighting the detrimental impact of galamsey, Archbishop Kwofie emphasized, while expressing frustration at the lack of effective action despite repeated calls for change, saying, “We have cried and cried out but without any positive response. Our waters are getting more and more dirty. The colour is absolutely appalling. The fishes are dying. Our Cocoa farms are being overtaken by galamsey trawlers we think we are getting richer but infact, we are getting poorer. When will this nonsense be stopped?

Drawing on biblical teachings, Archbishop Kwofie urged responsible stewardship of Ghana’s natural resources, quoting Ecclesiastes 5:10: “Whoever loves money, never has enough. Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” He called on Ghanaians to prioritize sustainable practices that safeguard the environment for future generations.

“We are indulging in acts as if we have forgotten our future. As if we have forgotten our children’s children. We want to leave them impoverished. Let us show that we are responsible citizens. Let us show that we are responsible for the future of our children and the future of our country,” the Prelate said.

“Let us leave the country with clean rivers. Let us be surrounded by gardens of green trees. Do not be deceived. Gold will finish but trees will endure forever, Archbishop Kwofie added.

The Archbishop was speaking after a candle-light procession organized by Religious Priests, Brothers, and Sisters in support of environmental protection.

The procession, organized by the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana (CMSR-Gh), is part of activities marking the Jubilee Year celebrations under the theme, ‘‘Send Forth your Spirit and Renew the Face of the Earth’’ Psalm 104:30, as declared by Pope Francis.

Ghana’s widespread illegal mining activities are destroying the gold-rich West African country’s forests.

The mining industry in Ghana involves both large global players but also artisanal mining activities, many of which are illegal.

Since taking office in 2017, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promised to rid the country of galamsey.

Head of Ghana’s Forestry Commission in a May 2023 report, said “Of the 16 regions of Ghana, seven have been affected by illegal mining activities.”

In addition, “34 out of 288 (forest) reserves have been affected,” he said, and the total area destroyed is estimated at 4,726 hectares (larger than cities like Athens or Brussels).

Authorities regularly launch operations against illegal sites, including removing excavators, but the practice continues.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications and Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, in March 2024 accused government of failure to safeguard the environment, particularly concerning the alarming degradation of water bodies.

In an address read on his behalf at the Environmental Policy Dialogues – an initiative of the Ghana chapter of the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability Africa (CYNESA-Ghana) and the Arrupe Jesuit Institute held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral,  Accra, Dr. Ashigbey emphasized that despite numerous statements from entities like the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, little progress has been made in addressing environmental issues faced by the country.

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While appreciating the role of the Episcopal Conference of Ghana in the fight against the menace, Dr. Ashibgey is of the view that although the “Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued several statements in the past on the state of the environment in Ghana; however, not much has changed,” because the laity has not been actively involved.

“Again let me emphasis the failure of the Laity to support our Lord Bishops in this fight,” he said.

The Ghana chapter of the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability, Africa (CYNESA) has been a forceful youth front pushing for the care for creation in Ghana.

In an effort to deepen understanding and action on environmental stewardship, the group launched a ‘Green Lent’ initiative early this year aimed at harnessing the power of social media, education, and advocacy to promote the principles outlined in Pope Francis’  Laudato Si and  Laudate Deum encyclicals.

“Given our tech-savvy youth population, we believe it’s crucial to utilize platforms like social media to spread awareness about environmental issues and mobilize for change,” Country Director for CYNESA Ghana, Francisca Dommetieru Ziniel told Catholic Trends.

The ‘Green Lent’ campaign featured a series of themed activities, beginning with its launch on Sunday, February 11th, 2024, across parishes nationwide. Each subsequent Friday and Sunday focused on specific themes such as ecological responsibility, solidarity with the poor, and the role of individuals in environmental protection.