The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference says illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, appears to have been institutionalised as a means of creating employment for people.
The Conference says the involvement of some authorities, including politicians and traditional leaders who are expected to help fight the menace, is particularly worrying.
Speaking during an engagement with Parliament’s Committee on Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs, President of the Conference, Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, called for decisive action to end the menace.
“Illegal mining, still ongoing, unfortunately, sadly, dangerously. Youth unemployment, environmental degradation. And we call for responsible and decisive action. We are destroying God’s creation,” he said.
Most Rev. Gyamfi bemoaned the complicity of chiefs, politicians, Members of Parliament and Municipal Chief Executives in the illegal activity.
“And who is doing it? We know chiefs, which you represent, some of them are involved. As I was speaking this morning, we have a letter from an MP who is fighting with some MCE over galamsey.
“And he has written the letter to the Ghana Catholic Bishops. So there are clear evidences that chiefs, politicians, some Members of Parliament, some MCEs are involved in this,” he revealed.
He warned that treating galamsey as a job creation avenue is dangerous and costly to the nation.
“And now you do not know, it appears that it is being formalised as a way of giving employment to people. But if we really do the cost benefit analysis, we see we are on the losing side greatly,” he said.
“Our chiefs and our Members of Parliament can do something. But if we who are supposed to protect are the ones who are doing it, then may God bless us.”
Gov’t’s measures against galamsey not enough – Catholic Bishops Conference
