Kumasi: The outgoing Bishop of the Methodist Church, Kumasi Diocese, Rt Rev Stephen Kwaku Owusu, has made a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, his administration, and opposition parties to depoliticize the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, to safeguard the nation's future. He emphasized the necessity for all political actors to set aside partisan interests and tribal sentiments, which he described as "more dangerous" than currently perceived, in order to successfully combat the destruction of land and water resources.
According to Ghana Web, the Reverend Minister highlighted that galamsey is an existential threat that does not discriminate based on political affiliation. "We need to do away with all politics and fight this as Ghanaians. Galamsey doesn't know the ruling party, and it doesn't know the opposition party; it affects everyone now and will be even worse in the future," he stated. He called for an urgent demand for both the ruling party and the opposition to form a united front, stressing that the president cannot win this fight alone if those around him continue to view the crisis through a political or tribal lens.
He warned that if immediate, non-partisan action isn't taken against the menace, it could lead to a dangerous future for Ghana. "I can anticipate a very dangerous future for Ghana because this is destroying our country. We need to know that this is a national emergency," he cautioned. The Bishop concluded his appeal by emphasizing that the survival of the country's natural resources depends on a collective Ghanaians-first approach. "By removing tribalism and political point-scoring from the equation, the nation can finally address the root causes of illegal mining and protect the heritage of future generations," he asserted.