Omanghana
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has renewed its appeal for a state of emergency to tackle illegal mining, warning that the destruction of water bodies and contamination of the food chain threaten public health and future generations.
Conference President, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, urged President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to adopt stronger measures, saying the worsening effects of galamsey demanded sustained and decisive action.
Speaking to Citi News, he said the consequences extended beyond damaged landscapes to the health and livelihoods of communities exposed to polluted water and food.
In separate remarks reported by JoyNews, Most Rev. Gyamfi expressed concern about babies being born with congenital abnormalities, which he linked to illegal mining. That attribution represents the bishop’s warning; the cited coverage did not provide clinical data establishing the scale or causes of the reported cases.
The bishops have repeatedly described galamsey as a moral and spiritual crisis requiring a response beyond routine enforcement. In an earlier statement, the Conference challenged national leaders to protect the environment and preserve the wellbeing of children and generations yet unborn.
Their concerns also reflect extensive damage to protected forests. In a November 2025 appeal, the bishops cited figures indicating that illegal mining had destroyed more than 5,252 hectares of forest reserves that year, with 44 of Ghana’s 288 reserves classified as degraded.
Most Rev. Gyamfi said the President’s responsibility to protect the country required visible action against activities endangering citizens. He maintained that extraordinary measures were justified by the severity of the situation.
The Conference is urging the government to sustain the fight against illegal mining and make the protection of communities, water resources and livelihoods central to its response.
Source: Omanghana
