The Director of Governance, Justice and Peace at the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Rev. Fr. Michael Quaicoe, has condemned the widespread destruction caused by illegal mining, saying no justification or political explanation can excuse the extent of the damage being done to Ghana’s environment.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, June 21, Rev. Fr. Quaicoe said the crisis has reached alarming levels, and all Ghanaians, regardless of political affiliation, must confront the issue head-on without resorting to blame or delays.

“The problem is not tomorrow, the problem is now. The destruction and the devastation is not tomorrow, it is now,” he stressed. “So the effort to fight this cannot be romanticised. We cannot negotiate with this. We have to put aside all our biases, political or otherwise, and just see how this problem is so overwhelming that it must take every effort.”

He described the impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, as “cataclysmic”, warning that Ghana’s once-beautiful natural environment is fast disappearing due to unchecked mining activities.

“What we inherited as a garden is gradually turning into a desert. We are gradually finding that the songs we used to sing romantically about the beauty of Ghana and its land and natural resources can no longer be sustained,” he said.

Rev. Fr. Quaicoe called for a renewed national mindset and commitment to confronting the problem directly, without hiding behind strategies or explanations that fail to reflect the urgency of the situation.

“Explanations are important, but without disregarding their value, it is important to see how devastating and how life-threatening this problem is to all of us,” he said. “No explanations are acceptable in the face of such a huge, life-destroying problem.”

He further urged citizens and leaders alike to “reflect, reset and renew” their attitudes echoing the theme of Ghana’s recent National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Day set for July 1.

“The problems of society come from society, so the solutions to the problems must come from society,” he added.