The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, in collaboration with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana, and Catholic Lay Faithful and Professionals, is organizing an Environmental Prayer Protest Walk Against Galamsey on Friday, October 11, 2024.
In a statement released on Friday, October 4, the church explained that the protest aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of illegal mining (galamsey) in Ghana and to urge the government to take urgent action to end the crisis.
The primary goal of the protest is to advocate for the declaration of a state of emergency on mining activities, particularly in areas around water bodies, river buffers, and forest reserves. Organizers hope to prompt the government to take strong measures to stop environmental degradation caused by galamsey and promote sustainable development to ensure a livable future for future generations.
The protest will begin at 10:00 am at Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka, with participants walking through key landmarks in Accra, including Castle Road, Ridge Roundabout, Parliament House, and Oxford Street, before ending at Christ the King Parish in Cantonments.
During the event, a petition will be presented to President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House, urging swift action to tackle the illegal mining crisis.
The Catholic Church is calling on all Ghanaians—including Catholics, other Christians, Muslims, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, environmental activists, and the general public—to join in this peaceful demonstration. The event is not only a prayerful gathering but also a demand for immediate and meaningful intervention to stop galamsey, protect the environment, and restore Ghana’s ecosystems.