By Wesley Omondi
ACCRA, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 (CISA)—Catholic Bishops in Ghana have urged citizens and institutions to adopt ecological citizenship as a way of life, emphasizing intentional and responsible care for the environment through daily actions. Drawing from the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi and Laudato Si’, they underscored humanity’s duty to steward creation responsibly.
“Ecological citizenship is characterized by conscious decisions to relate responsibly to the environment, showing our alignment with God’s divine will,” the Bishops stated, referencing the Pope’s encyclical on environmental care.
The Bishops expressed deep concern about the environmental destruction caused by activities such as illegal mining (galamsey in Ghana), indiscriminate tree-felling, and poor waste management. They specifically highlighted the severe impact of illegal mining in the Amansie Districts of the Catholic Diocese of Obuasi, where ecosystems, water bodies, and communities have suffered devastating consequences.
“Our care for our common home has been woefully short of expectations, with illegal mining activities running amok in districts like Amansie Central, East, West, and South,” they lamented.
In their statement, the Bishops called on the government to take decisive action to halt illegal mining, urging enforcement of laws and accountability for perpetrators. They also stressed that regulatory bodies must operate with integrity, free from political interference or corruption.
“Government must ensure that those involved in illegal and irresponsible mining face the full force of the law without fear or favour. Regulatory bodies must resist any attempts to compromise their ethical responsibilities,” they said.
The Bishops further challenged politicians to commit publicly to fighting galamsey and encouraged chiefs to outlaw illegal mining in their jurisdictions, reminding traditional leaders of their sacred duty to protect their lands.
“Politicians must say NO to galamsey in their campaigns and lead by example. Chiefs and queens who fail to protect their territories break their sacred oaths to their people,” they emphasized.
Local communities were urged to take responsibility for protecting their environment, with the Bishops warning against environmental destruction as a solution to unemployment. They stressed that self-destruction through environmental degradation would lead to long-term suffering.
“Communities must rise up to their God-given responsibility to protect forests, lands, and rivers. Destroying our environment is not an acceptable answer to unemployment,” they admonished.
The Catholic Clergy and faithful were called to live out their baptismal promises by standing firmly against illegal mining and questioning the sources of wealth of suspected individuals. The Bishops urged clergy to reject donations derived from illegal activities and warned Catholics involved in such activities of potential ecclesiastical sanctions.
“Let the clergy question the wealth sources of donors suspected of dubious dealings. Donations linked to illegal mining must be rejected. Any Catholic persisting in this crime will face ecclesiastical sanctions,” they warned.
Finally, the Bishops called for collaboration with other religious leaders to inspire collective environmental stewardship and urged all citizens to embrace a renewed consciousness about protecting Ghana’s environment.
