President Akufo-Addo has welcomed concerns raised by leaders of religious bodies in the country on the devastating state of river bodies and forest reserves as a result of illegal small scale mining (Galamsey) in several parts of the country, describing their support for the fight against the phenomenon as apt.
In his interaction with Religious leaders drawn from the Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Pentecostal Council, Ghana Charismatic and Pentecostal Council, the Catholic Bishops Conference and the National Muslim Council, when they paid a courtesy call on him today 1 November 2022, at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo said the ongoing discourse on Galamsey in the country during his term in office demonstrates that the entire nation is poised to eradicate illegal mining in the country.
The visit of the Religious leaders was essentially a follow-up to a press release they issued on the 17th of October 2022, demanding a total ban on small scale mining in the country in order to send a strong message to those involved in the menace.
President Akufo-Addo welcomed the religious leaders to his office and expressed his appreciation to the leaders for their interest in supporting government’s efforts aimed at dealing with the “Galamsey” phenomenon.
The delegation of Religious leaders was led by Rev. Professor J.O.Y Mante, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana. Rev. Mante, suggested that
“We have visited some Galamsey sites and we have seen some dangerous things that for us cannot even be expressed in textbooks. We see that the thing (Galamsey) is getting worse. We are here if you like, as your spiritual leaders to find out if there is any problem that we don’t know. We would like to know” Rev. Mante said.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, after the closed door meeting told the Jubilee House Press Corps that in was invited by the President to brief the leaders on their concerns and their call for small scale mining to be banned in its entirety.
He indicated that after his briefing, the Religious leaders expressed satisfaction with government’s stands on their demands and pledged to support all ongoing efforts of government aimed at stopping illegal mining in the country.
