Efua Ghartey, the president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has rallied members of the Association to speak against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The GBA president described galamsey as a national crisis threatening Ghana’s survival.
She further questioned why there is a high demand for heavy machinery, particularly excavators, in Ghana.
Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Efua Ghartey stated, “If indeed this is true, what legitimate industry in Ghana requires such massive quantities of excavators?”
She further called on lawyers to use their voices and influence to defend the environment.
“The rivers of Ghana cannot speak, neither can the forests. But as custodians of justice, we are morally bound to raise our voices on their behalf and strip away the impunity that protects galamsey operators”, the GBA president stated.
Also, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the acting Chief Justice, has said illegal mining has become worse.
The acting Chief Justice called for the government to take action.
Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stated, “Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now”.
He added, “We cannot continue to dither in September 2025 on the repeal of L.I. 2462 that has permitted mining in forest reserves. It is a good place to start if we sincerely want to win the war against galamsey. The time to act is now without any further delay”.
Additionally, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has warned that the desecration of creation through illegal mining (galamsey) is a grave sin against God.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 15, 2025, the Catholic Bishops wrote, “Illegal and unregulated mining, commonly known as galamsey, has become one of the gravest afflictions of our time.
It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods.
This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the bishops said.
The Bishop highlighted that the desecration of creation through galamsey is a grave sin against God.
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. To desecrate creation through galamsey is not only an offence against neighbour; it is a grave sin against God Himself, the Creator and Owner of all,” they declared.
The Catholic Bishops’ statement added, “Farmers can no longer trust the land to sustain their families, and our capacity to feed the nation diminishes. Children, seduced by the mirage of quick riches, forsake school for perilous pits, many losing their lives in collapses that are both tragic and preventable.”
“This betrayal of trust cuts to the very marrow of our national identity. We call such leaders to repentance without delay.”
The Catholic Bishops further expressed dismay at President Mahama’s refusal to declare a state of emergency.
They added, “In both January and May 2025, delegations of our Conference raised these concerns directly with him, only to be met with unsatisfactory responses focused narrowly on economic gain.
“At his ‘Meet the Press’ session of 10 September 2025, he dismissed calls for a state of emergency. This is profoundly troubling. The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act.”
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, however, warned that declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas may be necessary, but it is not sufficient to address the full extent of the devastation.
“While urgent, a declaration is insufficient. Ghana requires a holistic, integrated national strategy”, the statement read.
According to the Bishops, the government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful.
“His government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected. Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed.”
“This struggle is not merely about law enforcement. It concerns the very soul of Ghana. It is about whether we choose life or death, blessing or curse. With God’s grace, let us choose life, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.”
See the post below:
Rivers and forests cannot speak. We as custodians of justice must raise our voices to stop galamsey… – Mrs. Efua Ghartey (GBA President)#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/PJAkNWxgTn
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) September 16, 2025