Catholic Church To Protest Against Galamsey Today

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, in conjunction with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Catholic Lay Faithful and Professionals, is set to have an Environmental Prayer Protest Walk against illegal mining which is popularly referred to as galamsey, today, Friday, October 11.

The event is meant to expose the wanton environmental damage caused by galamsey operations and to call upon the government to take immediate and decisive action. The main objective is to advocate for a state of emergency as relates to mining activities, particularly areas around water bodies, river buffers, and forest reserves.

The Prayer Protest Walk is expected to begin at 10:00 AM from the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka through Castle Road to Ridge Roundabout through to High Gate, Parliament House, down to Oxford Street, and finally to Christ the King Parish, Cantonments.

The organizers hope the protest will compel the government to adopt efficient ways of fighting the deterioration of the environment to ensure sustainable development that secures the future of Ghana's environment for generations to come.

A petition as part of the protest will be presented to the President of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo, through Jubilee House, for immediate intervention in the galamsey crisis.

The Catholic Church therefore calls upon all Ghanaians thus, including Catholics, Christians, Muslims, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, environmental advocates, and the general public to join in the peaceful protest. Organizers insist that this will not only be a moment of prayer but also one of protest for the ceasing of illegal mining, protection of the environment, and the restitution of Ghana's ecosystems.