The Bishops of the Accra Archdiocese, alongside thousands of Catholic parishioners, organized an ‘Environmental Prayer Chase’ within the Ghanaian capital to roar the adverse effects of illegal mining, or galamsey.
The accrued demonstration on Friday (Oct. 11), geared towards raising awareness in regards to the environmental damage attributable to galamsey, culminated within the presentation of a petition to the presidency.
The protesters united of their demand stronger environmental protections and an conclude to galamsey, which has ravaged Ghana’s water our bodies and ecosystems.
“It is the fight of all of us. Policy makers, those who are involved in the business, our traditional leaders and indeed every Ghanaian,” the Director, Governance, Justice & Peace/Chaplain To Parliament and a representative of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference Fr Michael Quarcoo said.
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The march, drew frequent participation, including FixTheCountry and the Democracy Hub.
“Our struggle is that we want Galamsey to end and our water bodies to be fixed. Any group that is willing to march on that objective, you can count on our full support to be part of them,” NII AYI SAGOE, a member of Democracy Hub said.
The environmental devastation attributable to unregulated gold-mining operations has led to rising demands for urgent authorities action, including a divulge of emergency in mining areas and the cancellation of mining licenses.
Ghana, which is grappling with an financial disaster, is quandary to soon resume debt repayment in two weeks.
In maintaining with the Ghana Chambers of Mines, the core mining and quarrying sub-sector’s (aside from oil and gas) increase price tapered from 28.9 per cent in 2022 to 7.2 per cent in 2023.
Activist Bernard Mornah requires a shift of paradigm: “We have done this mining for God knows how long. Tell me that mineral revenue is responsible for the development of any infrastructure in this country. We still go to borrow and come and fix all the problems of this country. Isn’t that sickening?”
The stroll ended at the Christ the King Temple, the place a petition was presented.
The varied of the place is specifically symbolic, as it’s positioned next to the Revolution Square, a residing previously denied to democracy activists, which was met with heavy-handed ways.
It remains to be viewed whether or no longer this indicators a shift towards a more accommodating police strategy for protests or if it shows the continuation of selective justice.
