The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and the Conference of Major Superiors of the Religious Congregations Ghana are calling on Catholics, Christians, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to join the Environmental Prayer Walk Against Galamsey scheduled for Friday, October 11, 2024.
This initiative aims to mobilize citizens to demand that the government take immediate action against illegal mining, as various water bodies and forest reserves are being destroyed daily.
Participants will convene at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at 8am before marching to the Office of the Presidency to present a petition to President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House.
The march will conclude at Christ the King Parish in Cantonments, where an Episcopal Mass will be celebrated by His Grace, the Archbishop.
Addressing the media during a press briefing held at Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka on October 9, 2024, Father Nicholas Aazine, SVD, highlighted that “over 70% of Catholic population has tolerated this ecocide in Ghana.”
He criticized the Christian caucus in the three arms of government for their actions or inactions, stating they are sacrificing citizens’ well-being “on the altar of gold,” which he deemed a significant disappointment to both God and the people they serve.
Father Aazine pointed out that those with more resources and political power seem primarily focused on identifying problems rather than addressing their root causes.
He warned that without changes to current models of production and consumption, the negative impacts of climate change will only worsen.
He emphasized that galamsey is not limited to small-scale mining but has escalated into a national disaster, leading to the destruction of water bodies, forests, farmlands, and pollution of rivers and water resources.
“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” he questioned.
In light of these dire consequences, the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and the Conference of Major Superiors are participating in this Prayer Walk to raise awareness about the devastating effects of galamsey.
According to him, they aim to advocate for the government to declare a state of emergency and foster collaborations among stakeholders to address destructive mining activities.
Father Nicholas Aazine, SVD, is urging all Ghanaians to join this critical fight against galamsey.
