The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas worst hit by illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
The Bishops argue that such a declaration would enable extraordinary interventions, including curfews in volatile areas, securing devastated lands, dismantling entrenched criminal networks, and halting corrupt administrative practices.
“We therefore urge the President and his government to declare, without hesitation, a state of emergency in the most affected mining zones and around endangered water bodies. The scale of the crisis justifies nothing less,” the Bishops said in a statement.
Their demand comes days after President Mahama, at a media encounter in Accra, explained his reluctance to declare a state of emergency, insisting that existing laws already empower agencies to arrest offenders, seize equipment, and enforce environmental regulations.
The Bishops, however, insisted that a declaration alone is not enough. They urged government to adopt a holistic, integrated national strategy, which should include:
- Stricter mining laws and stiffer penalties for offenders.
- Specialised courts to expedite prosecutions.
- A permanent, well-resourced anti-galamsey task force insulated from corruption.
- Sustainable alternatives for those driven into illegal mining by poverty, including regulated small-scale mining zones, technical support, and access to credit.
- A nationwide afforestation and reclamation programme to heal devastated lands while creating jobs for the youth.
They further appealed to President Mahama to show “the courage of leadership” by ensuring accountability across board.
“His government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected. Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed,” the statement stressed.
