Illegal mining activities are beginning to alter key religious practices in some parts of Ghana, with the Church of Pentecost now turning to synthetic rubber pools for baptisms in communities where rivers and streams have been polluted.
Delivering the State of the Church Address at the 48th General Conference, Apostle Eric Nyamekye said the destruction of water bodies through galamsey had made traditional water baptism impossible in several mining areas.
“The extensive pollution of water bodies due to illegal mining has hampered traditional water baptism in some mining communities,” he said.
Beyond affecting church rituals, he noted that environmental degradation was also hurting the livelihoods of church members, especially those involved in farming and fishing.
According to him, erratic rainfall, falling cocoa yields and the seasonal movement of fish stocks are creating economic difficulties for many families and reducing the financial stability of local church assemblies.
Despite the growing environmental challenges, the Church of Pentecost says it is expanding its social intervention programmes across the country.
By the end of 2025, the church had established vocational skills centres in Bolgatanga and Essam to provide training opportunities for young people.
The church has also supported apprenticeship programmes through master craftsmen and completed several health facilities, prison camps and other infrastructure projects for the state.
