The Ghana chapter of the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) has expressed profound outrage at the Ghanaian government’s inaction regarding the illegal mining crisis destroying the country.

According to the Catholic Youth group, the environmental and social catastrophe, condemned by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si, continues to ravage ecosystems and exploit vulnerable communities with alarming impunity while many watch unconcerned.

In a press statement issued on September 6, 2024, CYNESA called on key stakeholders to step up their efforts in combating this urgent crisis.

“We urgently call on Catholic Members of Parliament to speak out and take decisive action now,” the statement said.

The group is also demanding action from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, urging them to “mobilize Catholics across the nation, together with well-meaning Ghanaians, to demand immediate and concrete steps to end galamsey through peaceful protests.”

They also called on the faithful, including the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, St. John International, and the Ladies Auxiliary to become “true defenders of justice and faith,” emphasising their role in advocating for change and fighting against this environmental disaster.

The statement issued by the Country Director and Coordinator for West Africa, Francisca Dommetieru Ziniel, criticises the current silence from political, religious, and traditional leaders, declaring it “both deafening and unacceptable.”

“Every day, our young people suffer as a result of the neglect and failure of those in power,” the statement added.

CYNESA’s call comes after the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and several other health unions and associations urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately ban all small-scale mining operations, whether legal or illegal.

This is in response to the increasing destruction of the country’s forest reserves and water bodies, along with the serious public health and environmental threats posed by individuals and organizations involved in illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

The issue of galamsey has become a national public disaster, leading to the destruction of water bodies, forests and farmlands.

Successive governments have failed to deal with the menace.

When President Akufo-Addo assumed the reigns of governance in 2017, he served notice that he was prepared to put his Presidency on the line in his avowed quest to fight illegal mining.

With that statement and a charge to deal with galamsey, the government implemented a flurry of initiatives to deal with the menace.

Among them was the passage of the Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995), which imposed a strict sentencing regime for offenders of galamsey.

Under Section 99 of Act 995, a Ghanaian engaged in illegal mining, or one who commands, instigates or employs others to engage in illegal mining commits an offence and is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not less than 10,000 penalty units (GH¢120,000) and not more than 15,000 penalty units (GH¢180,000) and to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 25 years.

For a foreigner engaged in illegal mining, Act 995 stipulates a fine of not less than 100,000 penalty units (GH¢1.2 million) and not more than 300,000 penalty units (GH¢3.6 million) and a term of imprisonment of not less than 20 years and not more than 25 years, or both the fine and the term of imprisonment.

The government also established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining and came up with Operation Vanguard, a security task force to deal with the menace.

However, seven years down the line, it seems the plans by the government had failed to have the desired effect, with galamsey activities rampant.

There have been accusations of corruption in the fight, and politically exposed persons being involved in galamsey activities, with many civil society organisations accusing the government of failing to deal with the menace.

With about three months to the general elections, the issue of galamsey has become a political talking point and a campaign issue, with the two major political parties engaging in the usual blame game politics.

However, while this political spectacle continues, the country continues to suffer the brunt of the effects of illegal mining.

Recently, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) attributed galamsey as part of the reasons for low cocoa yields, while the Ghana Water Company has also made public how the destruction of water bodies, as a result of galamsey activities, was making it difficult for it to supply the public with water.

The Ghana Water Company Limited has said that it is likely to shut down two major treatment plants in the Ashanti Region considering high turbidity resulting in increasing cost of production.

Illegal mining activity, also known as ‘galamsey’ has eaten into the Konongo and Odaso treatment plants of the Ghana Water Company Limited.

Below is the full statement by CYNESA

The Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) expresses its profound outrage at the government’s continued inaction on the illegal mining crisis, also known as galamsey.

This environmental and social disaster, which Pope Francis explicitly condemned in Laudato Si, is not only destroying ecosystems but also exploiting vulnerable communities with impunity.

We urgently call on Catholic Members of Parliament to speak out and take decisive action now. The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference must mobilize Catholics across the nation, together with well-meaning Ghanaians, to demand immediate and concrete steps to end galamsey through peaceful protests.

It is time for the Knights and Ladies of Marshall and St. John International, along with the Ladies Auxiliary, to step forward as the true defenders of justice and faith, speaking boldly and acting decisively against this national calamity.

The silence of our political, religious, and traditional leaders is both deafening and unacceptable. Every day, our young people suffer as a result of the neglect and failure of those in power. We call on all people of faith to denounce these violations, using all available platforms to demand immediate action.

We urge the government, civil society, and international organizations to treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves. Strengthen environmental regulations, rigorously enforce laws, and hold perpetrators accountable with severe penalties.

Moreover, it provides genuine economic alternatives for communities that have become dependent on illegal mining activities for survival.

CYNESA is resolutely committed to the pursuit of a just and sustainable future. We invite all concerned citizens to join us in defending the environment, advocating for human dignity, and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

As Pope Francis reminds us, “The environment is God’s gift to everyone; we must respect the rights of others in its use.” Let us rise to meet this challenge, standing in solidarity for the preservation of our common home.

For further information, contact:
Francisca Dommetieru Ziniel
Country Director and Coordinator for West Africa
Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA-Ghana)

Source: https://catholic-trends.com/