The Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu SVD, the Catholic Bishop of Ho has indicated that in this Diocese, there are attempts for prospective mining in the Santrokofi and Akpalu areas.
He told the Consecrated Men and Women and lay faithful who have gathered at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Sokode Gbogame in the Ho Diocese of Ghana after a candle light procession on June 15, 2024 that “Let us not think that galamsey is far from us. Destruction of land for minerals is so close to us.”
He said the Care of the environment: Area of concern for mother earth, cannot be underestimated since galamsey has gradually become a canker, stating, “Galamsey in terms of mining, let us not think it is far from us, it is close to us.”
Bishop Fianu said: “We sometimes think that galamsey is far from us, but here in our own local situation, we may be thinking that galamsey is far from us and so we pretend to focus on pollution with polythene bags and bottles.”
It is important we do that but let us not forget that sand winning, stone chipping sites are causing harm to mother earth. How can we stop these? The Bishop asked
What can we do to mitigate the destruction of the land? He queried, saying, “It is by insisting on reclamation, of the land for it is practically impossible to ask people not to win soil because that is what we need for construction.
Expressing worry, Bishop Fianu who is the Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference asked: “How can the land be reclaimed to be useful for agriculture purposes.
He expressed joy that the traditional leaders had come out boldly to say no to any prospects, adding that a signage in the community also announces their stand that no prospects for mineral in their community will be tolerated.
Bishop Fianu was of the opinion that sometimes, certain radical steps must be taken to protect the environment, citing that in the Abutia enclave, there are prospects to explore the Kalakpa Game Reserve.
According to the Bishop, this is why this form of advocacy, raising of consciousness and praying for the change of mind for those who are involved in the Ho Diocese.
“Let us look for other ways of raising the consciousness of our people so that we can all care for mother earth,” he suggested.
Bishop Fianu planted a tree to make the advocacy and Sr. Linda, an Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus planted one on behalf of women religious.
The Bishop was happy that students of Mater Ecclesiae School were in attendance and he encouraged them to emulate the example of their Formators.
By Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu SMMC (Sister Communicator)
