Ghana: Catholic Church to spotlight galamsey at September 1 Mass for Care of creation

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, has directed Catholic parishes and churches within the Accra Archdiocese to use the upcoming Mass for the Care of God’s Creation to raise awareness about the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

In a circular dated August 14, 2026, Archbishop Kwofie said all parishes, outstations and churches in the Archdiocese would celebrate the Mass on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

He specifically encouraged priests and the faithful to speak about galamsey as an activity that is “destroying the face of God’s creation” and “our common home.”

The Archbishop said the celebration should serve as a reminder of the responsibility of Christians to protect and responsibly manage the environment.

He also urged priests, religious leaders and lay faithful to promote the message of environmental stewardship through homilies and liturgical hymns focused on creation.

The directive follows an earlier June 15, 2026 letter from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), which called for greater emphasis on care for creation, including sermons and liturgical activities addressing environmental responsibility.

Archbishop Kwofie said the prescribed liturgical readings for the 2026 celebration, as contained in the Ordo, should be used, with Eucharistic Prayer IV and its Preface. He also referred to liturgical prayers and readings approved by Pope Leo XIV for the Mass for the Care of Creation.

The Archbishop concluded by urging Catholics across the Archdiocese to “become more responsible stewards of God’s Creation.”