The Knights of St. John International and Ladies’ Auxiliary have called on the government to take urgent steps to prevent mining in water bodies and forest reserves as well as preserve the environment.
The Catholic lay society, committed to the upholding of justice, peace and dignity of God’s creation, align with the concerns raised by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) in their press release issued on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 on “Protecting Our Common Home: A Call to End Environmental Degradation through Illegal Mining – Galamsey.”
The Catholic lay society, says it is deeply concerned about the devastating environmental, economic and social impacts of illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
In a statement signed by the Supreme Subordinate Commandery President of the Knights of St. John International, William Edmund Adjei said “the government should be firm in responding to this call and should demonstrate the same by immediately prosecuting defaulters irrespective of which side of the political divide they belong.”
“Education and Awareness Campaigns: We amplify the need for public education on the harmful effects of galamsey through our various platforms, engaging our communities in understanding the long-term consequences of illegal mining. Support for Alternative Livelihood Programmes: We urge the government to prioritise the development of alternative livelihoods for individuals engaged in illegal mining, particularly in agriculture and other sectors, in order to combat economic desperation driving them towards this activity.”
“Political Commitment Against “Galamsey”: We strongly encourage all political leaders, especially Presidential and Parliamentary candidates, to make public commitments against galamsey. Governments must take urgent steps to prevent mining in water and forest. We must reject any political manipulation of this national crisis.”
“As members of the Catholic faith and defenders of social justice as epitomised in the social teachings of the Church, we reiterate that “galamsey” is not only a crime against the environment but also an offence against the dignity of human life. We stand ready to support every effort aimed at preserving our common home, Ghana, for present and future generations.”
Read the full statement from the knights here
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