By Jones Anlimah
The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has added its voice to growing calls for tougher government action against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayose, the Council expressed deep concern over what it described as the “severe and irreversible damage” galamsey continues to inflict on Ghana’s environment, food security, and public health.
The Council noted recent appeals from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the National Catholic Laity Council, and the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey urging government to declare a state of emergency. While commending assurances from the President that the option remains on the table, the Council stressed that critical action can and must be taken in the meantime.
The statement highlighted that rivers once pristine have now become polluted with mud and mercury, farmlands have turned into wastelands, and forests described as “God’s sacred gifts” are all being destroyed. It warned that the situation poses grave health risks, undermines food production, and threatens national survival.
The Christian Council emphasized that illegal mining is not merely an environmental issue but a profound moral, social, and national security crisis. It therefore called on government to intensify efforts and enforce laws without fear or favour, ensuring that those who sponsor or benefit from galamsey are brought to justice regardless of political or economic status.
The Council also appealed to all Ghanaians traditional leaders, politicians, businesspeople, and security agencies to reject complicity and unite in the fight to safeguard the environment. “The fight against galamsey is not the sole responsibility of government. It demands the collective will, commitment, and action of the entire nation,” the statement said.
The Christian Council concluded with a call for courage, wisdom, and unity of purpose to secure a future where rivers run clean, farms flourish, and communities thrive in dignity and peace.
