Invest in alternative livelihood, galamseyers do so out of economic desperation – Catholic Bishops tell govt

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra has noted that many of those engaged in illegal mining (Galamseny) do so out of economic desperation.

They have urged the government to invest in alternative livelihood programs that provide sustainable employment opportunities for these individuals, particularly in the agricultural sector.

“Many of those engaged in illegal mining do so out of economic desperation. We urge the government to invest in alternative livelihood programmes that provide sustainable employment opportunities for these individuals, particularly in the agricultural sector,” portions of their petition they presented to the president on the issue of galamsey stated.

The Bishops also strongly urged all Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates to make public commitments against galamsey in their ongoing political campaigns and call on their followers to follow suit.

The bishops have promised to assist the fight against galamsey through constant prayer and education.

“We strongly urge all Presidential and Parliamentary Candidates to make public commitments against galamsey in their ongoing political campaigns and call on their followers to follow suit. On our part, we promise to assist through constant prayer and education,” their petition said.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, in partnership with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious and Catholic Lay Faithful and Professionals, embarked on the Environmental Prayer Protest Walk Against Galamsey in Accra on Friday, October 11.

This initiative aimed to raise awareness about the devastating impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, and call for urgent government action to address this issue.

The primary goal of the protest is to advocate for a state of emergency concerning mining activities, particularly in areas surrounding water bodies, river buffers, and forest reserves.

The National President for Peace, Justice, and Creation of the Catholic Church of Ghana, Father Nicolas Azzineh, told TV3’s Noble Crosby Annan that “we hope that God will listen to our prayers, that he will touch the hearts of people so that they will change their way of looking at ecology or nature. Nature is created for us to take care of.”

The bishops stressed the responsibility of Catholics and Ghanaians to safeguard the environment.

“We recognize our moral obligation to protect God’s creation and promote integral human development, not only in words but also in action. As the Latinists say, facta non-verbal,” they remarked.

The Bishops called upon Catholics, Christians, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to participate in what they called an “environmental prayer war against galamsey.” The initiative focuses on urging the government to declare a state of emergency. “The goal of this prayer walk is to raise awareness about the devastating effects of galamsey, advocate for the government to declare a state of emergency to stop all forms of mining activities, and allow for evaluation of the damage and healing of the land,” the Bishops explained.