The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency over illegal mining, aka galamsey.

The clergy warned that any further delay amounts to a betrayal of the nation.

“Illegal and unregulated mining, commonly known as galamsey, has become one of the gravest afflictions of our time.

It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods.

This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the bishops said.

The clerics lamented that once-pristine rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Offin, and Ayensu are now poisoned with mercury and toxic effluents.

They warned that turbidity levels in the Ayensu River, for instance, had reached 32,000 NTU compared to the Ghana Water Company’s treatment threshold of 2,500 NTU, making purification impossible.

They described the destruction of forests and farmlands as a “profound betrayal” of God’s mandate of stewardship.

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. To desecrate creation through galamsey is not only an offence against neighbour; it is a grave sin against God Himself, the Creator and Owner of all,” they declared.

The bishops warned of dire consequences for farmers, families, and children.

“Farmers can no longer trust the land to sustain their families, and our capacity to feed the nation diminishes. Children, seduced by the mirage of quick riches, forsake school for perilous pits, many losing their lives in collapses that are both tragic and preventable.”

They accused politicians, chiefs, security officers, and other leaders of shielding illegal operators.

“This betrayal of trust cuts to the very marrow of our national identity. We call such leaders to repentance without delay.”

The bishops also expressed dismay at President Mahama’s refusal to declare a state of emergency at his September 10 media encounter.

“In both January and May 2025, delegations of our Conference raised these concerns directly with him, only to be met with unsatisfactory responses focused narrowly on economic gain.

"At his ‘Meet the Press’ session of 10 September 2025, he dismissed calls for a state of emergency. This is profoundly troubling. The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act.”

They urged the President to declare a state of emergency in affected mining zones to impose curfews, secure devastated lands, dismantle criminal cartels, and halt corruption in mining administration.

“The scale of the crisis justifies nothing less.”

But the bishops stressed that declarations must be backed by stronger laws, stiffer penalties, specialised courts, and a corruption-proof task force.

They also called for mercy for desperate miners through regulated small-scale zones, farmer support, and a nationwide afforestation programme.

“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 bishops urged Ghanaians to resist the lure of illegal mining, chiefs to honour their custodial duty, politicians to place Ghana first, and security forces to defend the people with integrity.

“This struggle is not merely about law enforcement. It concerns the very soul of Ghana. It is about whether we choose life or death, blessing or curse. With God’s grace, let us choose life, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.”