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"Catholic Bishops' Conference disassociates itself from Environmental Prayer Walk against galamsey" – Archbishop Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye

Archbishop Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, the Archbishop of Kumasi, has publicly clarified that the Catholic Bishops' Conference is not involved in or supporting the recent environmental prayer walk organized by the Accra Archdiocese.


The event, which took place in Accra, was initially perceived by some as a protest against illegal mining, also known as "galamsey."


In a statement, Archbishop Anokye emphasized that while the walk was a prayerful initiative by the Accra Archdiocese, it should not be interpreted as a demonstration or endorsed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference.


He made it clear that the Conference does not engage in or support any form of strikes or protests related to the ongoing galamsey issue.


"The Catholic Bishops' Conference does not endorse strikes or demonstrations regarding the galamsey issue," Archbishop Anokye said, stressing the need for a collective, holistic approach to solving the problem.


He pointed out that illegal mining is a complex issue that affects multiple sectors, from local communities to industries such as transportation, construction, and food services, with approximately four million people directly or indirectly involved in mining-related activities.


He further explained, "The galamsey problem is multifaceted—it impacts the environment, livelihoods, and entire communities. It’s not just a political issue, but one that demands the collaboration of all stakeholders. We need open dialogue and collective responsibility to resolve it."


Archbishop Anokye urged the public not to misconstrue the prayer walk in Accra as a form of protest, reiterating that the Catholic Bishops' Conference has not organized any demonstrations against galamsey.


He clarified that while politics plays a role in addressing the issue, the problem transcends political boundaries and should not be viewed as a failure of any particular government.


In his closing remarks, the Archbishop mentioned that the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, Father Clement Adjei, had also addressed the matter on an Accra-based radio and television station , confirming that the Accra prayer walk was not linked to the Conference.


"We pray for a peaceful resolution to the galamsey issue and continue to monitor the situation closely," he added.


The Archbishop called for unity in addressing the environmental and societal challenges posed by illegal mining and reiterated the Church's commitment to prayer and peaceful solutions.


"We must all come together, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to work towards a sustainable resolution to the galamsey crisis," Archbishop Anokye concluded.


Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

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