-BY Issah Olegor
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.
