The General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has voiced a crucial imperative for the Ghanaian Church: a concerted effort to educate the populace on the devastating consequences of illegal mining and the rampant gold smuggling that plagues the nation’s resources. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, August 17, 2026, Archbishop Duncan-Williams emphasized that religious institutions must actively engage in promoting awareness and understanding of the critical need for responsible mining and environmental protection. His remarks underscore a significant shift in focus, moving beyond traditional prayer to encompass practical education and a moral obligation to safeguard Ghana’s natural heritage. He stated that the Church’s role extends beyond simply offering spiritual guidance, demanding a proactive approach to addressing this multifaceted crisis.
He addressed the challenge of how the Church could bolster efforts in this area, responding to the question of what could be achieved beyond prayer, he emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in mindset. ‘Education,’ he asserted, was the key intervention the Church could pursue alongside prayer. The Church, he explained, must empower its members to understand that the fight against illegal mining isn’t solely about preventing individuals from engaging in illicit activities, but rather ensuring mining is conducted responsibly and adheres to established legal frameworks. ‘I feel I have a responsibility to educate the church so that we don’t politicise everything and realize that nobody, from my perspective, is telling people you cannot mine, but do it in a responsible way and be accountable,’ he stated. This underscores a desire to move away from a purely reactive approach to environmental damage.
Furthermore, Archbishop Duncan-Williams warned that the financial benefits derived from mining, while potentially substantial, could be severely undermined if the resulting environmental degradation continues unabated. He specifically highlighted the potential for communities to suffer from contaminated water sources, degraded farmland, and compromised environmental health, particularly due to exposure to mercury – a substance linked to severe health problems. The Archbishop pointed out that the long-term repercussions of unchecked mining practices extend far beyond immediate economic gains, potentially jeopardizing the well-being of future generations. He urged a deeper examination of the interconnectedness between environmental protection and sustainable economic development.
He underscored that the people who attend church are, in essence, the citizens – the participants in the economy, the political sphere, and public life – making religious institutions an indispensable platform for civic and environmental education. ‘The people who come to church are the citizens,’ he maintained. ‘They do everything in the country. They run the country,’ he said. He argued that educating church members about the consequences of galamsey could act as a catalyst for influencing behavior beyond the confines of religious institutions, extending into homes, communities, and workplaces. ‘If we can educate them, create the awareness and help them to understand that nobody is telling you don’t do this but do it the right way and while you are doing it the right way, have the environment in mind,’ he emphasized. The Archbishop asserted that his advocacy was also informed by a spiritual dimension to the galamsey crisis, which he believes requires prayer alongside practical interventions. He maintained, however, that the Church’s responsibility should extend beyond spiritual intervention to the crucial task of promoting responsible behavior and environmental stewardship, arguing that protecting Ghana’s natural resources should be intrinsically linked to safeguarding the future.
The Archbishop stated that his advocacy was also informed by what he described as a spiritual dimension to the galamsey crisis, which he believes requires prayer alongside practical interventions. He concluded by stressing the importance of the Church’s role in actively promoting accountability and environmental stewardship, emphasizing that protecting Ghana’s natural resources should be viewed as a fundamental responsibility to present and future generations.”
**Tags:** Environmentalism, Mining, Ghana, Church, Archbishop, Sustainability, Governance
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Source: Adom Online
