The meeting was on the theme: “Consecrated Life for Human Rights Protection and Ecological Justice.”

Bishop of Donkorkrom Vicariate and Episcopal Vicar for Priests and Religious, Most Rev John Alphonse Asiedu, Divine Word Missionaries made the call in a good will message at the conference held at Brofoyaw in Cape Coast of the Central Region.
He urged stakeholders to sustain the campaign fight against the illegal mining menace and possibly redouble their efforts until the perpetrators heed to the call to stop the untold devastation to humans and the environment.

Most Rev. Asiedu said having identified the ills of ecological destruction, consecrated Men and Women of God must not only be advocates but pursue action.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel, admonished participants to be religious and pilgrims of hope wherever they find themselves.
He urged the participants to deliberate on issues in a Christ-like manner as consecrated Men and Women of God.

The President of CSMR-GH, Father Paul Saa-Dade Ennin said a year ago, the conference launched its Jubilee Year of Hope celebration, dedicating it to the fight for environmental protection and care for creation.
He said during the occasion, consecrated persons were mobilised across the country and other stakeholders and collaborators to speak out against the indiscriminate destruction of the forests, water bodies and ecosystem by irresponsible mining practices commonly known as galamsey.

“During this Jubilee Year of Hope, we have stood firm in our commitment to protecting the planet and promoting ecological justice,” he stated.
He said, “Even though the battle is not ended, we can rejoice seeing the many more passionate voices crying out loud against the galamsey menace and putting government on its toes to carry out its mandate of protecting the land and its people.”

In a speech, a co-guest speaker and Member of Parliament for Madina, Mr Francis Xavier Sosu said the canker of galamsey was a big threat to inter- generational equity right so that those of us benefitting from the land today, would not act in ways that would compromise the values to be derived from the same land for future Gene.

He expressed the hope that with the concerted efforts of programmes and projects of President Mahama, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the menace of galamsey would be defeated in due course.
He indicated that one productive approach was to have a stakeholder’s engagement with the miners to impress on them the devastating effect of their actions.

Friar Joseph Blay, OFM Conventual and a guest speaker said the rationale for the event was to create consciousness of the role of the religious as advocates and not activists.
He said, “We have arrived at this point on the issue of galamsey because of weak leadership over the years because of the lack of political will to implement aspects of the laws of the environment, particularly on mining.”

According to Friar Blay said by the laws, nobody has the right to sell the land for gold, quoting Act 703, and 995 of the constitution which states that every mineral in Ghana is entrusted to the President.
He rejected the narrative of Chiefs being accused of selling the land for gold, adding that nobody has the right to sell the land for gold per the law.

Christians, he said have a God-given mandate to protect the poor and the environment which all Christians must live up to.
He urged members of society to uphold their civic responsibilities to the environment by avoiding littering in public places.