News

Catholic Bishops urge President Mahama to declare galamsey state of emergency

Published

1 year ago

May 25, 2025

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called on President John Mahama to declare a targeted state of emergency in areas worst affected by illegal mining, known as galamsey.

During a visit to the Jubilee House, the President of the Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, presented a series of strong recommendations to help combat the growing threat of environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities.

Introducing the proposal, he said, “Your Excellency, we propose the following and we are ready to back you up in all ways to arrest this menace. First, repeal of permissive legal instruments.”

He continued, “Audit and repeal legislative instruments enabling unchecked licensing under the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and associated legislative instruments. Place a moratorium on licences, and an immediate freeze on new artisanal and small-scale mining licences until a full review of environmental and social impact is completed.”

Calling for decisive action, Most Rev. Gyamfi added, “We believe there should be a targeted state of emergency. Declare, Your Excellency, a limited state of emergency in all the affected zones to suspend all mining activities temporarily. Deploy military engineering units for reclamation.”

In response, President Mahama assured the Bishops that his government is already taking firm steps to curb the crisis.

“We have flushed out illegal miners from the country’s forest reserves and seized their equipment to prevent further environmental degradation,” he said.

The President also highlighted the role of the Ghana Gold Board, explaining that its responsibilities go beyond gold buying and exportation.

“If you read the law, part of the Gold Board’s responsibilities is to work with small-scale miners who are compliant, to give them the technology and assistance to do mining sustainably,” he noted.

President Mahama welcomed a key proposal from the Bishops on land reclamation, saying, “One of the things that Reverend Gyamfi raised in his presentation was the issue of a reclamation bond. We don’t charge reclamation bond to small-scale mining companies. We do it for the big companies. But it’s time for us to bring a reclamation bond to the small-scale mining community.”

He explained how the bond would work saying; “Some of the revenue they get from the gold is put into that bond. If they finish and they reclaim the land, their money is refunded. If they don’t, then that money will be used to contract people who will come and do the reclamation for us.”

On the broader damage already caused, the President revealed that “16% of our forest reserves have been destroyed and encroached upon.” He added that plans are underway to use the carbon credit system to finance the restoration of affected areas.

Beyond the issue of illegal mining, President Mahama also touched on the economy, stating that his government has introduced targeted interventions to help ease the rising cost of living.

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Education

Over 10 Students Arrested Over Okuapeman-Mount Sinai SHS Clash

Published

2 days ago

September 3, 2026

AladdynKing

More than 10 students have been apprehended in connection with the clashes between Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The arrests follow reprisal attacks between students of the two schools, which resulted in the burning and destruction of several structures on both campuses in the early hours of Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 2, Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah, said some of the students fled their schools when the police arrived. Still, he warned that their absence would not prevent the police from arresting them.

“We have apprehended them. And there are more,” he said, adding that the police are compiling a comprehensive list of all persons involved in the violence.

He disclosed that the investigation had also uncovered information suggesting that some teachers may have encouraged students to attack their counterparts.

According to him, the police have obtained the names of teachers allegedly linked to the incident and will take action against them if investigations establish their involvement.

“We have the names of the teachers. They have nowhere to go. At the appropriate time, we will arrest all of them, and their names will be published,” DCOP Owusu-Bempah warned.

DCOP Owusu-Bempah assured the public that anyone found to have participated in the violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law, while urging students to return to school and cooperate with the investigation.

He also appealed against any interference in the police process, warning that such actions could undermine efforts to restore calm and ensure accountability.

At Okuapeman SHS, six students were injured and taken to hospital following the incident. The school’s Headmaster said four of the students had since been treated and discharged, while two remained on admission as of Wednesday.

The exact trigger for the clashes remains unclear, but the police have begun investigations to establish what led to the confrontation and identify all those responsible.

citinewsroom.com

Education

GES Releases National Harmonised Prospectus For 2026/27 SHS Admissions

Published

2 days ago

September 3, 2026

AladdynKing

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the release of the National Harmonised Prospectus for prospective Senior High School (SHS) and Senior High Technical School (SHTS) students for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The prospectus is intended to guide parents and students on the essential items required for enrolment, covering both boarding and day students.

GES has urged parents and students preparing for the next stage of their education to carefully review the prospectus and make the necessary preparations ahead of the commencement of the new academic year.

Schools and other relevant stakeholders have also been directed to adhere to the requirements outlined in the prospectus to ensure a smooth, consistent and standardised admission process nationwide.

The release of the prospectus comes ahead of the announcement of school placements and is expected to help newly admitted students and their parents adequately prepare for enrolment once placements are released.

Parents and prospective students are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the approved requirements to avoid challenges during the admission process.

Below is the list of items outlined in the prospectus that parents and guardians are required to acquire for their wards: