In a message to hundreds of Catholics and non-Catholics who participated in an Environmental Prayer Walk last Friday, October 11, 2024, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp has lamented how the environment of the West African Nation of Ghana is under attack through illegal mining popularly known as “galamsey.”
“My dear brothers and sisters, our environment is under attack. Our water bodies are polluted, our arable lands are being destroyed, and we live under constant health risks because of what we consume,” he said at the Christ the King Parish during an Episcopal Mass after the about four-hour prayer walk from the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka to the Christ the King Parish, cantonments.
The Archbishop’s message which attracted loud applauds stated that “Those who are sponsoring and or attacking our environment say we should wait until elections are over to do anything about it. But this would not work.”
“Human life is larger, more important than elections. Elections will come and go, but we remain citizens of the earth,” he noted.
Read the full message below:
PRAYER WALK AGAINST GALAMSEY 11th October 2024
My dear people of God and of goodwill; I thank you for your marvellous presence this afternoon. People are wondering whether our environmental prayer walk against Galamsey would yield any positive results. Yes, it has already started yielding positive results, for the Bible tells us, “Some trust in chariots and horses; we trust in the name of the Lord” (Ps. 20:7).
My dear people of God, our action today has many antecedents. This is not organized by the Bishops’ Conference, but we have received a lot of inspiration from it. As far back as 1980, the Bishops’ Conference spoke about environmental issues. In 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1997, we spoke against galamsey through our communiques. In 2010, the whole communique was on environmental issues including galamsey. This was issued in Wiawso. From 2011 up till now almost every communique contains a mention of galamsey. Church groups such as the Knights of Marshall and individuals have also spoken against it. These have all fallen on deaf ears. We have long realized that our speech alone has proven woefully inadequate against this canker. This is the reason for our prayer walk. We want to petition our Mother Mary to pray for us so that the hearts of the citizens of this land would be touched.
My dear brothers and sisters, our environment is under attack. Our water bodies are polluted, our arable lands are being destroyed, and we live under constant health risks because of what we consume. Those who are sponsoring and or attacking our environment say we should wait until elections are over to do anything about it. But this would not work. Human life is larger, more important than elections. Elections will come and go, but we remain citizens of the earth.
Our 1992 Constitution article 257 paragraph 6 says in reference to gold: “Every mineral in its natural state, under or upon any land in Ghana, rivers, streams, water courses throughout Ghana . . . shall be vested in the President on behalf of, and in trust of the people of Ghana”. But we know that those who want us to wait till after elections are stealing the gold in its natural state. God tells us that when we arrogate to yourself what does not belong to us, we are thieves, hence the commandment states: “you shall not steal” (Ex 20:15). Mr. President, we are grateful something is being done about the situation. However, we ask you to crank the whip! We are behind you!
Environmental Prayer Walk is neither NPP nor NDC, its not GUM or CPP, not ACP or NDP, etc. Galamsey cuts across party lines. Those in the pits looking for gold are NPP, NDC, GCPP, Movement for Change, CPP, etc. Let each flagbearer call his/her followers to lay down their tools. As a Church, we are very concerned.
Galamsey cuts across religions and denominations. Those in the pit looking for gold are Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Tranditionalists, etc. I vehemently call on my Catholics to lay down their tools. You too, leaders of other religions, and pastors of souls do the same. Perhaps, we can get a few to relinquish their actions and repent. As a Church, we are very concerned.
Galamsey cuts across ethnic groups. Some of those in the pits looking for gold are Ahanta, Fanti, Ewe, Ashanti, Ga, Guan, Dagaaba, Hausa, etc. These ethnic groups have overlords or paramount chiefs. We call on all chiefs and overlords to come on board to stop this menace. Are we going to sit down unconcerned? If there is something for us to do for our country, it is this: We don’t want to give birth to deformed babies; babies with three or five limbs or babies
with brain disorders etc. As a Church, we are very concerned. Please, stop Galamsey; it is and will disfigure those who are yet unborn.
If the Manifesto of any political party doesn’t say anything concretely against Galamsey in this era, know this for certain, it is no Manifesto. If your manifesto doesn’t clearly outline a plan against Galamsey, then it suggests that you want us all dead as well as all the living creatures in our river bodies. We are looking for a leader who will call a spade a spade and have a plan to deal with the problem.
We all have a responsibility of taking care of our common home. May this walk remind us of that. May this prayer walk cause repentance in the hearts of us all especially those engaged in galamsey. May Mary our Mother pray for us and help us to be victorious in this battle. May God hear our prayer and make our nation great and strong.
Newswatcgh.com
