AFRICA/GHANA – Bishops: “Corruption of some officials involved in illegal gold mining must be thoroughly investigated”

Accra – “When public authority is exchanged for financial gain and environmental destruction becomes a source of revenue, the rule of law is weakened and the common good harmed,” declared the bishops of Ghana in a statement regarding the scandal surrounding the corruption of some officials in connection with the business dealings of operators of illegal gold mines in the central Amansie district of the Ashanti region.
An investigation by the television station JoyNews, titled “A tax for Galamsey: The extortion racket fueling illegal mining,” exposed the corruption of some local and state officials who tolerated unauthorized mining activities in exchange for illegal payments. The Bishops’ Conference expresses its sincere appreciation to the management and investigative team “for their professional work and commitment to truth.” “At a time when the pursuit of truth may entail significant cost, their work serves the common good and underscores the importance of a free and responsible press in safeguarding democratic accountability,” reads a statement from the bishops, sent to Fides.
Regarding the investigation, the bishops emphasize that it “presents evidence of what appears to be a parallel system of taxation operating within the Amansie Central District. State institutions mandated to protect the environment and enforce the law are alleged to have participated in the very activities they are required to prevent.” The document recalls that “Over the past three decades, we, the Catholic Bishops of Ghana, have consistently spoken about the environmental and social consequences of illegal mining” .
The bishops condemned the grave environmental and social damage caused by illegal mining, which discharges highly toxic waste products into rivers: “Water bodies have been polluted, agricultural land degraded, and communities displaced. Families have suffered injuries and loss of life due to unsafe mining practices. The long-term effects on public health and ecological sustainability remain serious. The challenge posed by illegal mining is therefore a matter of national importance. It concerns environmental protection, lawful governance, and responsibility towards future generations. This moment calls for clarity, integrity, and decisive leadership”.
The Bishops’ Conference therefore recommends the measures proposed by the journalists from JoyNews: an independent investigation led by the President; the suspension of the officials named in the documentary until the investigation is completed; a financial audit of the Amansie Central District Assembly; and the establishment of a national agency to monitor illegal mining activities.

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