The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has issued a directive to the clergy, urging them to reject donations from individuals or groups linked to illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as “galamsey.”
In a communique read at the close of the 2024 Plenary Assembly in the Obuasi Diocese on November 15, the Bishops stressed that the Catholic Church must remain steadfast in protecting the environment and uphold its moral integrity by distancing itself from sources of wealth tied to ecological destruction.
Ecological Citizenship and the Call for Responsibility
In a message reflecting on Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures, the Bishops underscored the Church’s duty as stewards of creation. They called for a broader understanding of ecological citizenship, a concept which emphasizes a responsible relationship with the environment, not just through words, but through concrete daily actions.
“The relationship we have with our common home – the earth – places a duty of care upon all of humanity,” the communique stated. “It is precisely in the intentional and loving care for creation that we take up our identity and mission as co-creators,” it added.
The Bishops expressed deep concern over the state of Ghana’s natural resources, pointing to the rampant destruction caused by illegal mining. “Sadly, our care for our common home has been woefully and dismally short of expectation,” they lamented, highlighting the severe impact of galamsey on the nation’s ecosystems, water bodies, and communities, particularly in the Obuasi Diocese and the Amansie Districts, where illegal mining activities are rampant.
Urgent Calls to Action
The Bishops called on the government to take “immediate and decisive action” to halt illegal mining. They demanded strict enforcement of laws and accountability for perpetrators, urging authorities to cease any political interference with regulatory bodies.
They also appealed to political leaders, especially those running for office, to make clear, public commitments to fight galamsey. “We strongly urge all Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates to make public commitments against galamsey in their ongoing political campaigns,” they said, emphasizing that politicians must distance themselves from illegal mining operations.
The communique called for traditional leaders to take action by outlawing illegal mining in their communities, reminding them of their sacred responsibility to protect the land and people they serve.
The Bishops further called on all citizens, religious leaders, and communities to take ownership of the environmental crisis. “Let us wake up to the reality that the destruction of our environment is self-destruction,” the Bishops asserted, urging a collective reawakening to the urgency of environmental care.
Watch the communique below
Sometimes it is better you don’t touch on issues when you don’t have control over. How are you going to know some donation is galamsy or dubious