Bishops Push For Emergency, Targeted Action On Galamsey
Church Leaders Issue Stark Warning:
Nation’s Soul at Risk from Illegal Mining
DAMONGO – Ghana’s Catholic Bishops have delivered their most forceful rebuke yet on the country’s galamsey crisis, calling on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in high-risk mining zones and prosecute perpetrators “regardless of political affiliation.”
In a hard-hitting communiqué issued at the conclusion of their Annual Plenary Assembly in Damongo last Friday, the Bishops warned that ecological degradation represents both “a profound moral crisis and a spiritual challenge”, as 44 out of 288 forest reserves are now degraded and approximately 75% of the nation’s rivers polluted, primarily by mercury and cyanide.
The week-long assembly, held under the theme: A Synodal Church at the Service of Justice and Peace in Ghana, brought together Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy, and lay faithful at the Unity Centre in the Catholic Diocese of Damongo from 7–14 November.
Winner-Takes-All” Politics Must End
Beyond environmental concerns, the Bishops tackled head-on Ghana’s toxic political culture, condemning what they described as “among the most violent” elections since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, with over 100 arrests, several deaths, and injuries recorded nationwide.
“The political history of our country has often been marred by intolerance and a ‘winner-takes-all’ mindset,” the Communiqué stated, urging citizens to “reject partisan animosity and embrace a politics rooted in the common good.”
The Bishops expressed grave concern over “escalating use of inflammatory, divisive, and sometimes hateful rhetoric” and warned that increasing ethnocentrism “grieves the heart of God.”
Conflicts Claim 300 Lives in Bawku
The Prelates highlighted on-going violence in Bawku, where long-standing tensions have claimed over 300 lives and displaced more than 30,000 residents. The August 2025 Gbenyiri conflict alone resulted in at least 31 deaths and a displacement of over 48,000 people.
“These crises reveal that peace cannot be assumed but must be actively cultivated,” the Bishops declared, calling for inclusive engagement amongst traditional authorities, government institutions, civil society, and religious bodies.
Anti-Corruption Bodies Must Act Independently
On corruption, the Bishops pulled no punches. Citing Ghana’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index score of 42/100, ranking 80th out of 180 countries, they demanded that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor “exercise their mandates with complete independence.”
“Their investigations must be guided solely by evidence, the rule of law, and professional ethics, without fear or favour, regardless of the political affiliation, social status, or economic power of those under investigation,” the Communiqué stated emphatically.
Catholic Schools Need 20% Quota
The Bishops also re-echoed their call for government to guarantee that at least 20% of student intake in Catholic pre-tertiary schools be reserved for Catholic children, “to ensure that faith-based formation remains accessible while advancing national development.”
150-Year Jubilee Announced
On a celebratory note, the Church announced the establishment of a Pre-preparatory Committee to prepare for the 2030 celebration of 150 years of the Catholic faith in Ghana.
The Bishops expressed gratitude to Most Rev. Peter Paul Yelezuome Angkyier and the Diocese of Damongo for hosting the Assembly, which included memorable visits to the Overlord of Gonjaland, Yagbonwura Bii-Konuto Jewusoale II, the ancient Larabanga Mosque, and Mole National Park.
Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Sunyani, emphasised that “peace without justice is fragile”, calling for conversion of heart and active dialogue.
