The Accra Metropolitan Archbishop, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, has clarified the church’s position regarding the ongoing environmental prayer walk organized by the Archdiocese of Accra, amidst claims of political interference.
Speaking on the matter, Archbishop Kwofie emphasized that the prayer walk is not a political demonstration, nor should it be interpreted as an action by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The prayer walk, according to the Archbishop, was initiated to address environmental, social, and industrial issues, particularly the impact of illegal mining locally known as “galamsey” on communities.
The event is aimed at praying for solutions to these pressing challenges and fostering dialogue among various stakeholders.
“It is not a political issue. It is environmental, it is social, it is industrial. It’s a work and employment situation that has several ramifications,” Archbishop Kwofie stated, addressing the wide-ranging effects of illegal mining on livelihoods.
He expressed concern that certain political elements were attempting to hijack the event, turning it into a political agenda.
The Archbishop stressed that the church does not support any political action, whether in relation to labor strikes or government disputes, and clarified that the prayer walk should not be seen as a protest against the government’s handling of the illegal mining crisis.
“This is not a Catholic Bishops’ Conference initiative. It is not a demonstration. It is simply a prayer walk organized by the Archdiocese of Accra for environmental issues,” he reiterated, urging the public not to misconstrue the event.
Archbishop Kwofie pointed out that illegal mining, which affects around four million people directly or indirectly, has had a severe impact on Ghana’s environment and communities. He called for all stakeholders, not just politicians, to come together to address the issue and emphasized that the solution should involve collective effort.
“It should not be seen as the government failing to stop galamsey. All of us are involved – those cutting down trees, those damaging the environment. It’s a collective issue,” he remarked, noting that dialogue with all parties is necessary to resolve the crisis.
The Archbishop also referenced comments made by the Secretary-General of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Rev. Fr. Clement Aapengnuo, on local media outlets, reiterating that the prayer walk is not linked to the Bishops’ Conference but is an initiative by the Archdiocese of Accra.
In closing, Archbishop Kwofie encouraged the faithful to continue praying for a peaceful resolution to the illegal mining issue and to remain vigilant against any attempts to politicize the church’s efforts.
“We pray that stakeholders will find a peaceful way of solving this problem,” he concluded.
The illegal mining crisis in Ghana has long been a point of contention, with its detrimental effects on the environment, including deforestation and water pollution. The church’s initiative, through this prayer walk, aims to raise awareness and seek divine intervention while advocating for collaborative efforts to address the issue.
Background
Illegal mining, also known as “galamsey,” has been a significant environmental and social issue in Ghana, contributing to deforestation, water pollution, and loss of livelihoods.
Several government attempts to tackle the problem have faced challenges, with stakeholders from various sectors calling for more comprehensive approaches to combat the practice.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /IJB/kumasi
