The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has welcomed the concerns raised by the Chairman of the Pentecost Church, Ghana, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, over illegal mining activities and their effects on the church.
In a statement, the Ministry said the concerns had been noted.
“The Ministry treats these comments as useful feedback in our collective national fight against illegal mining.”
He further acknowledged the role of the faith community in shaping public conscience and its valuable contributions to public discourse.
He affirmed the government’s continuous commitment to the fight against the menace.
“We encourage continued engagement from all stakeholders as we all work together to make our waters blue and our forests green under the leadership of President Mahama and the sector minister, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah.”
This comes after the CEO of Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr Mary Awusi, spoke out against the concerns as a political statement, issuing a stern warning against the respected preacher to desist from such comments.
Concern
During a State of the Church Address on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Chairman of the Church expressed concerns about the devastating impact of illegal mining on the environment.
He stated that the pollution of water bodies by galamsey had affected the sacred baptism of water.
“The extensive pollution of water bodies due to illegal mining has hampered traditional water baptism in some mining communities, necessitating a shift to synthetic rubber pools in several districts to carry out the ordinance.
“In response to the several mental and safety concerns in galamsey endemic in communities, the church is actively intensifying its advocacy with government stakeholders to combat illegal mining.”
He further directed all districts to construct dedicated baptistries at their central seats as an alternative.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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Source:
opemsuo.com
