The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious-Ghana(CMSR-GH) are jointly organising an Environmental Prayer Walk in Accra on Friday October 11, 2024, against illegal mining commonly referred to as galamsey.
 
The walk is aimed at urging the government, Civil Soviety Organisations and other stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action against the menace and its devastating impact on the nation's environment including the contamination and pollution of its water bodies.
A statement dated October 4, 2024 and signed by the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, explained that a petition will also be presented to the President at the Jubilee House during the event.
 
Activity
The statement further stated that participants of the walk will converge on the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka where the walk will start, through the major streets and end with a Holy Mass at the Christ the King, Grotto at Cantonments.
It explained that participants of the event will engage in what the statement describes as “a peaceful prayer walk, praying with the Rosary which is our weapon against any adversaries.”
 
It therefore directed “all priests to read this letter and announce this prayer walk in all churches in the Archdiocese from Sunday October 6, 2024.”
 
The statement urged each Parish Priest or Priest-in-Charge to bus parishioners and support the event with the necessary logistics.
 
“I also ask the Knights of St John International and Ladies Auxiliary, the Knights and Ladies of Marshall to be present in their uniforms and to assist in coordination and maintenance of order" it added.
 
The statement further appealed to Priests, Religious and Lay Faithful to show commitment towards the fight against illegal mining and its negative effects on the nation's environment.
 
Background, effects
Under current Ghanaian law, it is illegal for galamseyers to dig on land granted to mining companies as concessions or licenses. Most illegal miners find gold in free metallic dust form or they process oxide or sulphide gold ore using liquid mercury.
Consumers of pipe-borne water may be consuming small amount of mercury and unknown to the public, bits of it could accumulate and give negative effect in the not-too-distant future. Aside those who drink treated water, millions of Ghanaians who live at the bank of river bodies fetch the raw water which is contaminated with chemicals such as mercury and arsenic for domestic use.