The Methodist Church of Ghana has called for renewed and practical efforts to tackle illegal mining, warning that the destruction of farmlands and pollution of the country’s water bodies pose a serious threat to Ghana’s environmental and social wellbeing.
The Presiding Bishop of the Church, Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, said religious institutions must move beyond advocacy and take a more active role in confronting the environmental destruction associated with galamsey.
He made the call at the opening of the Methodist Church Ghana’s 52nd Conference 2026.
The Presiding Bishop said the devastating floods recently experienced in parts of the country had exposed weaknesses in the way Christians and religious institutions understood their responsibility towards environmental protection.
“The recent, devastating deluge in the country exposed the inadequate conception of Christian stewardship and responsibility that we have worked with,” he said.
He said the destruction of arable land and contamination of water bodies through illegal mining should be treated as matters of moral and national concern, requiring the Church to exercise its prophetic responsibility by speaking against activities that threaten the country’s natural resources.
Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu stressed that protecting the environment must become an integral part of the Church’s mission, particularly as communities continue to suffer the consequences of degraded land, polluted water sources and other environmental challenges.
He cautioned against allowing the Church’s vision and mission statements to remain declarations without measurable impact.
“Our vision and mission statements must not remain empty slogans; we must pray about them, work towards them, and consciously look out for measurable outcomes on how effective we have been in the discharge of our duties as a church,” he said.
The Presiding Bishop therefore urged religious leaders and institutions to deepen environmental advocacy while supporting practical initiatives aimed at protecting Ghana’s forests, farmlands and water bodies.
He said the fight against illegal mining required sustained commitment and collective action, with the Church playing a stronger role in promoting responsible environmental stewardship and safeguarding natural resources for future generations.
