The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has issued one of its most forceful warnings yet about the state of Ghana’s environment, calling on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a national state of emergency in areas ravaged by illegal mining.
The bishops say the scale of destruction now represents not just an environmental crisis but a spiritual and moral breakdown that threatens the very soul of the nation.
In a communique released at the end of the 2025 Annual Plenary Assembly held in Damongo, the bishops lamented the accelerating devastation of Ghana’s forests, rivers, food systems, and wildlife. According to their assessment, Ghana lost more than 5,252 hectares of forest reserves in 2025 alone as a direct result of illegal and irresponsible mining. Out of 288 forest reserves nationwide, forty-four are now classified as degraded. The bishops stressed that about seventy-five percent of Ghana’s rivers are polluted, largely due to the mercury and cyanide used in galamsey operations.
The bishops declared that the situation has reached a point of national emergency. They stated in their communique that Ghana cannot continue to watch the destruction unfold while political actors and powerful individuals shield perpetrators for personal or partisan gain.
The statement said, “We call upon our dear President to announce even more radical action against this menace including the declaration of a state of emergency in high risk mining zones, swift prosecution of perpetrators regardless of political affiliation, and the full reclamation of lands ravaged by illegal and irresponsible mining.”
The Conference acknowledged ongoing state efforts, including the establishment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, but insisted that the scale of destruction demands extraordinary measures.
According to the bishops, the continued poisoning of rivers, the depletion of forest cover, and the irreversible destruction of fertile lands call for courage and national sacrifice. They warned that Ghana is approaching a dangerous turning point where future generations may inherit a barren, toxic, and uninhabitable landscape.
The bishops commended chiefs and queen mothers who have resisted attempts by illegal miners to infiltrate their lands, describing such traditional leaders as guardians of Ghana’s natural heritage. They appealed to all traditional authorities to demonstrate similar courage in defence of their communities, noting that some chiefs have sadly been complicit in the ongoing destruction.
The communique urged the entire citizenry to take ownership of the fight against environmental destruction. It said, “We call upon the entire citizenry to own the fight against galamsey until our land and waters are sanitised and healed.”
During their visit to Mole National Park, the bishops said they were struck by the majesty of creation and reminded of humanity’s stewardship responsibility. The communique noted that the awe inspired by the park’s vast landscapes contrasted sharply with the devastation they see in other parts of Ghana. This, they said, deepened their conviction that environmental degradation is not just physical damage but a break in the covenant between God, humanity, and creation.
The bishops further stressed that ecological destruction is a justice issue, since poor and rural communities bear the heaviest burdens of poisoned rivers, damaged farmlands, and disappearing livelihoods. They explained that environmental collapse often triggers social instability, conflict, youth unemployment, and migration pressures. They reminded the nation that protecting the environment is inseparable from protecting human dignity and economic wellbeing.
As part of their broader message, the bishops called for transparent reporting on water quality, forest status, and food safety indicators. They demanded strong institutions that cannot be manipulated by persons with political power or economic influence. They warned that the failure to act decisively today will leave Ghana with a future defined by scarcity, conflict, and public health disasters.
The communique, signed by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, concluded with a renewed pledge to support national efforts aimed at justice, peace, and environmental stewardship. The bishops called the protection of Ghana’s natural resources a sacred duty that must be embraced by all citizens.
Source: www.KumasiMail.Com/JosephZiem
