Galamsey fight must go beyond empty slogans; it requires conscious effort – Methodist Church

The Methodist Church in Ghana has called for immediate and persistent action against illegal mining, known as galamsey, warning that the resulting destruction of farmlands and contamination of water sources pose a significant threat to the nation's future. Presiding Bishop Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu emphasized that religious institutions can no longer stand idly by while environmental degradation impacts communities.

He urged churches and other faith-based organizations to take a more proactive stance in safeguarding Ghana's natural resources. During the inauguration of the Methodist Church Ghana’s 52nd Conference in 2026, he highlighted how recent severe flooding has revealed the need for improved approaches to Christian stewardship. “The recent, devastating deluge in the country exposed the inadequate conception of Christian stewardship and responsibility that we have worked with,” he stated.

Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu stressed that the Church's dedication to environmental protection must translate into concrete results, not just rhetoric. “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 added.

Consequently, he urged religious bodies to ramp up advocacy efforts and practical measures to protect the environment, preserve water bodies and farmlands, and promote responsible stewardship of the country's natural assets.