Heads of Churches in Ashanti Region have resolved to assist the government in the fight against illegal mining locally referred to as galamsey.
The Christian group says they cannot keep mute on the issue because their silence against the menace makes them accomplices in the destruction of the environment and water bodies.
Addressing the media in the Ashanti region, Right Reverend Professor Osei Sarfo Kantanka, Immediate Past Bishop of Methodist Church of Ghana said “we are stewards of the environment and we shall give account of our stewardship to God. We cannot tolerate the selfish ambitions of some individuals and groups in destroying what we all own together.”
He further indicated that “the galamsey menace is causing wanton destruction to our property including cocoa farms, vegetable plantation and considerable damage to the landscape, has caused grievous damage and irreparable destruction to our water bodies including Offin, Pra, Birim, Ankora etc, not to mention the aquatic life in these rivers.
“The cost of damage cannot be quantified in monetary terms. The unbelievable death toll on the galamsey operators themselves is said to be between 200 and 400 annually.”
The Right Reverend also lamented the use of chemicals and its resultant effect on the water bodies and the operators themselves and indicated that because Ghana is a Christian nation we are stewards of the earth and should not destroy it.”
The group has therefore warned all Christians to desist from activities that lead to the destruction of the environment because it is unacceptable to God and to humanity. They’ve also commended the government for taking a brave step towards fighting the menace.
They encouraged the government to pursue the fight to the end and not be threatened by loss of votes.
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