By Buertey Francis BORYOR
The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, has embarked on an environmental prayer walk against illegal mining in Accra, registering their frustration over the phenomenon also known as ‘Galamsey’ destroying the country’s water bodies and forest cover, October 11, 2024.
The Environmental Prayer Walk, organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra in conjunction with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious- Ghana (CMSR-Gh), witnessed participants walk from the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka through some of the major landmarks in Accra, including Liberation Road, Ridge Roundabout, Christ the King Parish and ending at Jubilee House.
The move underscores the church’s resolve to contribute toward protection against environmental degradation and entrench appropriate sustainable practices in mining.
It attracted Catholic worshippers, environmental activists and members of the Crusaders against Galamsey group, who gathered at the cathedral holding placards with messages, calling for an end to illegal mining activities particularly in areas surrounding waterbodies, river buffers and forest reserves.
There was security presence to guide the peaceful demonstrators through their designated route.
The group subsequently presented their petition to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Aduma- Bossman who stood in for the Chief of Staff to receive the petition from the Catholic Diocese.
The priest who read the petition on behalf of the Catholic Diocese said that: “After petitioning government nine times about the menace, there was nothing to write home about- the reason why we have organised this peaceful prayer walk to emphasise that we take the fight against illegal mining seriously. We are also Ghanaians and the Galamsey is destroying everything,”
However, he was grateful to the President for rekindling the fight against the menace, as the Ghana Armed Forces have been directed to go into the forest and deal with illegal miners. Additionally, he called for more action to halt illegal mining in the country.
