The Catholic Archdiocese and Conferences of Major Superiors of Accra will this morning October 11, 2024 hit the streets to express their displeasure against the ongoing galamsey menace.
The group led by Rev. Father Nicholas Aazam is calling on Catholics, religious groups and all well-meaning Ghanaians to join the environmental prayer walk aimed at raising awareness about the devastating effect of galamsey, advocate for government to declare a state of emergency among others.
Protestors will converge at the Holy Spirit Cathedral for the march after which they will present a petition to the president at the jubilee house and climax it with a mass at the Christ the King Parish.
Illegal small-scale mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has led to severe environmental damage across Ghana, contaminating water sources, destroying farmland, and endangering livelihoods.
Although the government has made efforts to curb the practice, it continues, sparking fears over the lasting effects on the country’s natural resources and communities.
In reaction to this, the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, a letter dated October 4, 2024 to inform the public on a national prayer walk, against the illicit menace.
The Bishops stressed the responsibility of both Catholics and Ghanaians to safeguard the environment.
“We recognize our moral obligation to protect God’s creation and promote integral human development, not only in words but also in action. As the Latinists say, facta non verba” they remarked.
The Bishops called upon Catholics, Christians, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to take part in what they referred to as an “environmental prayer war against galamsey.”
The initiative focuses on urging the government to declare a state of emergency.
“The goal of this prayer walk is to raise awareness about the devastating effects of galamsey, advocate for the government to declare a state of emergency to stop all forms of mining activities, and allow for evaluation of the damage and healing of the land,” the Bishops explained.
They further underscored the urgency for governmental action. “We are mobilizing Catholics and Ghanaians to demand that government acts now and not keep giving promises. Our land and our future are at stake,” the Bishops asserted.
