The Catholic Church has declared it will not accept donations derived from proceeds of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey in Ghana.

This decision is part of broader sanctions aimed at addressing the involvement of church members in illegal mining activities.

Speaking at the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference, the President of the Bishops Conference, Most Rev Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, emphasised the Church’s firm stance on the issue.

He revealed that the Church is prepared to impose stricter sanctions, including denying Holy Communion to members who persist in illegal mining activities.

“We will not accept any donations that are the fruit of illegal mining. The sanctions will be tightened further even to the extent that if you openly engage in galamsey, after a series of advice and you persist in that dangerous activity, we may even refuse you Holy Communion," he stated.

Most Rev Gyamfi stressed that the Church would issue warnings before imposing such sanctions but reiterated that any money from illegal mining would be rejected outright.

"We do not consider that the Lord will not accept such a gift, we will refuse it immediately. You will be warned and if you persist in it, other sanctions will come in," he said.

Most Rev Gyamfi also called on the public to take an active role in combating illegal mining and protecting natural resources.

He urged local communities to prevent illegal miners from destroying their lands and polluting water bodies.

“The people should take it into their own hands to protect their land and should not allow somebody from somewhere to come and destroy their water. 

“This whole thing that we are talking about - about the government doing this, is it the government that is polluting the water? It is even some of us in the local communities who are doing this galamsey. Then we say the government should come and save us from ourselves. No,” he added.