The Methodist Church Ghana has called for stronger and more practical action against illegal mining, warning that the continued destruction of farmlands and contamination of water bodies could have serious consequences for the country.
Presiding Bishop of the Church, Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, said the fight against illegal mining must not be left solely to government and environmental agencies, insisting that religious institutions also have a responsibility to protect Ghana’s natural resources.
He made the call at the opening of the 52nd Conference of the Methodist Church Ghana, where he challenged Christians and religious leaders to reassess their responsibility towards the environment.
The Presiding Bishop linked the environmental crisis to the recent devastating floods recorded in the country, saying the situation had exposed shortcomings in how Christians approached environmental stewardship.
According to him, the destruction of arable land and pollution of water bodies through illegal mining represented issues that demanded the Church’s prophetic voice and practical intervention.
He stressed that the Church’s responsibility should extend beyond preaching and policy statements to concrete actions capable of producing measurable results.
“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.
Church urged to lead environmental advocacy
Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu urged religious institutions to intensify advocacy and develop practical initiatives aimed at protecting Ghana’s environment.
He said the scale of environmental degradation required a collective response involving government, civil society, traditional authorities, religious bodies and communities.
The Methodist Church’s call comes amid continuing concerns over illegal mining and its impact on Ghana’s agricultural lands and water resources.
The Presiding Bishop maintained that Christians must recognise environmental protection as an important part of their stewardship responsibilities and work towards ensuring that Ghana’s natural resources are preserved for future generations.
He therefore encouraged the Church to translate its environmental concerns into sustained programmes and interventions that could contribute to addressing the country’s growing ecological challenges.
