Enough Talk, Take Action Against Galamsey – Catholic Knights to Mahama

The Knights of St. John International and Ladies’ Auxiliary have urged government to move beyond rhetoric and take bold, decisive action against illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, which continues to devastate Ghana’s environment.

The call comes as civil society organisations prepare to meet President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House to deliberate on the worsening menace.

Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the 12th Biennial Supreme Subordinate Convention in Kumasi, the Supreme Subordinate Commandery President, Major General William Edmund Adjei, stressed that the time for dialogue has passed.

“Let me be very honest with you, where we have gotten to in the fight against galamsey, it is not talk matter. It is action. And I don’t believe anybody in government does not know what must be done. Do you need a meeting like that to know what must be done? I don’t think so,” he said.

While acknowledging government’s initiatives, Major General Adjei cautioned that they must not become another “talk show,” adding that what is urgently required is concrete enforcement.

He noted that advocacy must be continuous and accompanied by pressure to ensure results:

“One thing you must realise is that you don’t stop until the evil stops. Issuing one statement is only the first step. You must continue to put pressure until the evil ends. Just drive across the country and look at the water bodies. We are the people affected, and our children will come to suffer. So the advocacy should not stop. We must continue the pressure until it ends.”

The Catholic Knights reiterated their support for proposals already submitted by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, civil society, and academia, including calls for a state of emergency in heavily affected areas.

They warned that if urgent steps are not taken, the destruction of rivers and ecosystems by illegal mining will leave irreversible consequences for future generations.