Sanctity of the Earth: A Religiocentric Approach to Dealing with the Galamsey Menace in Ghana

Abstract

The phenomenon of galamsey (illegal mining) poses a serious threat to Ghana’s environment and socio-economic sustainability, despite its perceived economic benefits. While governmental and non-governmental interventions have sought to curb this practice, they often overlook the potential influence of religion in promoting environmental stewardship. This paper advocates for a religiocentric approach to combat the destructive effects of galamsey, acknowledging that most Ghanaians, including those engaged in galamsey, are affiliated with religious traditions. It draws on the ecological ethics embedded in Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religions to demonstrate how these faiths uphold the sanctity of the earth and hence, can provide a moral framework for sustainable environmental practices. Using qualitative and textual analysis, the paper emphasizes how, when effectively communicated and integrated with public policy and socio-economic strategies, religious teachings can mobilize communities towards preserving Ghana’s ecological integrity. This study contributes to existing knowledge by its integration of religious ethics into sustainability strategies to provide a novel interdisciplinary framework for tackling illegal mining in Ghana.