Catholic Church Rejects Donations Linked to Illegal Mining

The Catholic Church in Ghana has taken a resolute stance against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, declaring it will not accept donations derived from proceeds linked to the activity. This decision is part of broader measures to address the involvement of church members in illegal mining and its destructive effects.

Speaking at the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Bishops Conference, emphasized the Church's unwavering position on the issue. He announced that stricter sanctions would be enforced against church members who persist in engaging in galamsey.

“We will not accept any donations that are the fruit of illegal mining,” he said. “If you openly engage in galamsey and persist after a series of warnings, we may even refuse you Holy Communion."

The Catholic Church has made it clear that while it is willing to counsel and warn offenders, any money gained from illegal mining will be outrightly rejected. According to Most Rev. Gyamfi, the Church believes such funds are tainted and unacceptable in the eyes of God.

"We do not believe the Lord will accept such a gift. We will refuse it immediately," he reiterated.

Beyond internal measures, Most Rev. Gyamfi called on Ghanaians to actively combat illegal mining and take ownership of protecting their natural resources. He urged communities to prevent illegal miners from destroying lands and polluting water bodies, noting that these actions often emanate from within local communities themselves.

“The people should take it into their own hands to protect their land and should not allow someone from elsewhere to come and destroy their water,” he said.

He challenged communities to take responsibility instead of solely depending on the government. “This whole thing we are discussing – about the government doing this or that – is it the government polluting the water? It is some of us in the local communities engaging in galamsey, yet we expect the government to save us from ourselves. No.”

The Catholic Church’s stance reflects its commitment to ethical leadership and environmental stewardship, especially at a time when illegal mining has devastated vast areas of Ghana, leading to land degradation and water pollution.

The Church hopes this firm position will deter its members and others from engaging in galamsey while promoting collective responsibility for environmental conservation.