As President John Dramani Mahama approaches the final stretch of his 120-day pledge to eliminate illegal mining, Catholic leadership in Ghana has entered the fray—demanding visible and decisive action.
Speaking during an Easter Sunday homily at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra, the Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Reverend John Bonaventure Kwofie, issued a solemn reminder to President Mahama to fulfil his promise to eradicate illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, within his first 120 days in office.
“The Catholic Church is concerned about galamsey activities because they are killing the public. The Ghanaian public placed a big trust in you. This trust is ephemeral; we can easily forget. Mr. President, know this: eyes are watching you,” the Archbishop warned.
A Promise on the Clock
The Archbishop’s message comes with urgency. With over 100 days already elapsed since Mahama’s inauguration, only a few days remain for the President to deliver on his highly publicised campaign promise.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Mahama positioned himself as a leader prepared to make the hard decisions on illegal mining—an issue that has plagued Ghana’s environment and undermined rural livelihoods for over a decade.
He pledged to ban galamsey operations—both legal and illegal—particularly in forest reserves, and restore Ghana’s severely polluted river systems.
This message resonated deeply with voters, especially amid growing public frustration over the devastation caused by unregulated mining.
Environmental And Moral Crisis
Archbishop Kwofie did not mince words on the consequences of the continued menace.
“We take this promise seriously because galamsey is killing us. 120 days, yes, you crossed the 100 line a few days ago, and you are left with less than 20 days. We want to remind you—we voted you into office because of your stance on galamsey and many other evils plaguing our country,” he said.
He praised Mahama’s ethical commitment but emphasized that time was running out.
“In fact, you displayed the high ethical standard we need in our politics in Ghana. We think you can do it.”
Beyond Ghana’s borders, the Archbishop expressed concern over foreign involvement in illegal mining, naming countries like Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo, and Guinea as sources of non-Ghanaian galamsey operators in regions such as Abrewa Nne Nkran.
His call for bold leadership invoked the legacy of integrity exemplified by traditional figures like Nana Bosompem, saying:
“Let’s have men like Nana Bosompem, men with integrity and courage, who would not ask where we went right or wrong in the legal system, and our forestry will return to normal.”
The Resurrection Message and National Renewal
Linking the Easter celebration with the broader message of national transformation, the Archbishop drew parallels between the spiritual renewal of Christ’s resurrection and the moral awakening required in the country’s governance.
“This is dying to the ‘old man’ of injustice, wickedness, infidelity, and disrespect, and rising to the ‘new man’ of justice, respect for one another, and faithfulness in everything we do.”
His message, delivered in the presence of clergy, parishioners, and state representatives, has added fresh pressure on Mahama—who now faces scrutiny not just from the public and political opposition, but also from Ghana’s moral and religious institutions.
Public Patience Wearing Thin
This development comes at a time when civil society and environmental activists have grown increasingly impatient.
Recent reports have indicated that several water bodies, including River Pra and the Offin, remain heavily contaminated, and illegal operations persist in remote regions despite new directives from the Lands Ministry.
Mahama’s administration has so far announced a National Task Force to tackle illegal mining and restructured the Minerals Commission’s oversight mechanisms.
But critics, including some environmental groups, have said that policy implementation has been too slow to match the urgency of the crisis.
