Archbishops and Bishops of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) have urged the government to invest in alternative livelihood programmes that provide sustainable employment opportunities for individuals involved in illegal mining, particularly in agriculture and other sectors.
The Bishops noted that Illegal mining has polluted several of our rivers, such as the Pra, Ankobra, Densu, Tano, Offin and Birim,rendering them undrinkable and unfit for agricultural
and domestic use.
Archbishops and Bishops, of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) have, over the years, specifically, since 2009, been consistently vocal about the environmental
degradation caused by illegal mining,particularly the phenomenon of “galamsey” (illegal small
scale mining), which has unleashed devastating consequences on our country’s ecosystems, water bodies, and communities.
The Conference is deeply concerned about the persistent and alarming levels of environmental
degradation caused by such activities.
In a latest statement signed by Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Bishops’ Conference said Many of those engaged in illegal mining do so out of economic desperation.
The Bishops are worried over Loss of Vast stretches of arable land, cocoa farms and other
crops have been destroyed by illegal mining activities, reducing the nation’s ability to produce
food and threatening food security, adding this loss of farmland is particularly harmful to small-scale farmers who depend on their land for survival.
It said “While mining remains an important part of Ghana’s
economy, it must be carried out responsibly and sustainably. We call on mining companies, both large-scale and small-scale, to adhere strictly to environmental regulations and to adopt practices that protect the environment.”
“As a Church, we remain committed to promoting social justice and the protection of the
environment. We cannot stand by while our environment, which is a gift from God, is destroyed by greed and indifference. The time for action is now. This injustice must stop now. Galamsey is a crime of ecocide which cannot and must not go unpunished. We call on all Ghanaians to join hands in this noble cause to preserve our environment, protect
the dignity of human life, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. We urge all politicians to desist from politicising this grave national crisis. Let us rise up to protect our common home.”
Source:Mybrytfmonline/Mensah Atakora
