The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency in regions severely affected by illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

The appeal was made during a meeting at the Jubilee House, where the President of the Conference, Most Reverend Matthew Gyamfi, expressed deep concern over the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities.

He described the situation as alarming and warned that it poses a significant threat to the country’s ecological sustainability and long-term development.

“The widespread destruction of the environment through illegal mining is deeply troubling and calls for urgent and decisive action,” he said.

The Bishops also took the opportunity to commend President Mahama for his leadership and emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration in addressing national challenges.

In response, President Mahama reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring order in the mining sector.

He highlighted ongoing efforts by the Minerals Commission and the Gold Board (Goldbod) to formalise small-scale mining operations.

These initiatives, he noted, include enforcing responsible mining practices and providing continuous training to miners to ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards.

“We are determined to sanitise the sector and ensure that small-scale mining is done responsibly,” the President assured the Conference.