Ghanaian prelate and cardinal of the Catholic Church, Peter Appiah Turkson, has criticized the destruction of land and water resources in Ghana because of illegal mining (galamsey) activities.
According to him, the fight against galamsey has now become a big religious movement, focusing on the care and nurturing of God’s creation.
He argued that as humans who believe in God as their creator, they do not have to abuse “what your God creator has created. He gave you the earth as a garden so why turn it as a wilderness for your children?”
The fight against illegal mining in Ghana has gone beyond protests and demonstration as religious groups have also undertaken some initiatives to draw attention to the devastating effects of galamsey on the environment, and the need for government to take immediate action on it.
Hundreds of Catholics in Ghana’s capital, Accra, joined the Environmental Prayer Walk against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey in Ghana on Friday, October 11, 2024.
The walk started with a “Service of Preparation” at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka.
Also, environmental activists and members of the public joined the walk, drawing attention to the devastating effects caused by galamsey to the nation’s water bodies and forests.
God gave us the earth as a garden; why turn it into a wilderness for the next generation? – Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson on galamsey#HotIssues pic.twitter.com/TtN7gFJwUv
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) October 14, 2024
