The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, John Bonaventure Kwofie, has called on the government to move beyond empty promises and take tangible action in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey.”
In a powerful sermon delivered on Sunday, May 4, at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Accra, Archbishop Kwofie described galamsey as “an evil we must not tolerate,” urging political leaders, particularly President John Mahama, to back their words with visible actions.
“Nothing is too late for the President to say ‘enough is enough.’ Galamsey is a complex problem, but that complexity cannot be used as an excuse. We must actively fight it. We need to be seen taking action against illegal mining,” Archbishop Kwofie emphasized.
His comments came just days after President Mahama’s May Day speech, where he reiterated his administration’s commitment to combating illegal mining and assured Ghanaians that security services are well-prepared to dismantle illegal mining operations across the country.
However, Archbishop Kwofie questioned whether these assurances would lead to real change. “In your May Day address, you told us that our armed forces and security services are ready for the task,” the Archbishop said, directly referencing the President. “But is that just empty talk, or will we see real, sustained action?”
The Archbishop also reminded the congregation of a promise made by President Mahama during the 2024 election campaign, in which he set a 120-day timeline to tackle the galamsey crisis— a promise that has yet to be fully realized.
Using the phrase “Aluta Continua” (the struggle continues), which was also a key slogan in President Mahama’s speech, Archbishop Kwofie raised critical questions: “Are we fighting to protect our forests and water bodies? Are we confronting the individuals and companies making enormous profits from this environmental destruction?”
He urged Ghanaians to consider the moral and spiritual aspects of environmental justice, drawing attention to the ongoing harm caused by illegal mining. “We are poisoning our waters, and we are losing our forests,” he lamented.
Archbishop Kwofie concluded his message by calling on the country’s security forces to intensify their efforts in fighting illegal mining, as well as encouraging the faithful to pray for both spiritual and political leaders to show courage and conviction in protecting the environment. His remarks contribute to mounting pressure on the Mahama administration to deliver concrete solutions to the illegal mining crisis, which has led to deforestation, polluted rivers, and devastating health and livelihood consequences in affected communities.
