The Methodist Church Ghana’s Tema Diocese has issued a passionate call for a united, non-political national response to the escalating illegal mining (galamsey) crisis, warning of catastrophic consequences if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking at the 28th Annual Synod of the Diocese, the Right Reverend Samuel Ofori-Akyea, Tema Diocesan Bishop, stressed that the fight against galamsey must transcend political interests to safeguard Ghana’s future. “I am very afraid that one day if we don’t stop some of these things, especially the galamsey, the nation will suffer; everybody will suffer,” he warned.
Rt. Rev. Ofori-Akyea urged Ghanaians to set aside partisan politics and unite in a shared national effort to end illegal mining activities, which continue to ravage the country’s environment. He emphasized that the church, as an integral part of the nation, could not remain silent on such critical issues affecting the land and its people.
Beyond its advocacy against galamsey, the Tema Diocese is intensifying its commitment to environmental stewardship through robust sanitation drives and widespread tree-planting initiatives. The Bishop described these efforts as both a civic duty and a spiritual calling. “Tree planting is not just an ecological gesture but a spiritual act of obedience,” he said, urging religious communities to champion cleaner environments and sustainable practices.
Lay Chairman of the Diocese, Mr. Robert Andrew Taylor, highlighted the church’s parallel focus on youth empowerment. He revealed that leadership development programmes are being rolled out to equip young people to fill leadership roles as the diocese plans to expand its circuits from 13 to 19.
Taylor praised the impact of church activities in helping young members steer clear of social vices, such as drug abuse, and reaffirmed the church’s commitment to mentoring the next generation spiritually and morally.
As Ghana faces mounting environmental challenges, the Methodist Church’s Tema Diocese is making it clear: collective action, not political maneuvering, will determine the nation’s fate.
