Rev. Dr Emmanuel Kwasi Amoafo, a distinguished lecturer, author, and preacher, has called on the church to collaborate more actively with the government in addressing Ghana’s illegal mining (galamsey) crisis. He advocates for the church to help provide sustainable alternatives through proper regulation and intervention.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Channel One TV, on Monday, September 30, Rev. Dr. Amoafo emphasised the church’s role in raising awareness, urging religious leaders to use the pulpit to educate Ghanaians—particularly those involved in illegal mining—about the need to protect the environment and preserve water bodies.
When asked if the church should take a stronger stance on environmental protection, Rev. Dr. Amoafo responded, “Absolutely, I would say that they should do it in two ways, first from the pulpit, teaching the ordinary man on the streets, the importance of our God-given mandate to steward the environment in a Godly way.
“And then, secondly engaging actively with the government, because the government takes the church seriously. Especially in a country like Ghana, where virtually everybody goes to church.
“The government seeking votes from the public knows that the people listen to the church. The church should actively engage with the government and say that we think this thing needs to be regulated this way. They need to also provide alternatives if you just tell the government to regulate it, [it doesn’t work that way].”
Rev. Dr. Amoafo urged the church to set aside political differences and unite against the galamsey menace, tackling it collectively as one body, stating, “For me, that again is a failure of theology because, in Mathew 5:13-16, God has called his people to be the salt and the light of the earth.
“So if the church is so divided that they cannot play that role of being the salt and the light, that’s a failure.”
Rev. Dr. Amoafo encouraged the church to pray for God’s chosen leader to emerge in the 2024 general elections, seeking divine guidance in the selection of a leader who will promote peace, justice, and righteousness.
“As a united church, it doesn’t matter which denomination you are, whether Pentecostal or mainline denomination or whatever, the church should organise prayer and say, Lord, we’re coming to you at this critical time in the history of our nation, we’re crying out to you to avert bloodshed, violence and discord, and so on, you give us the leader of your choice.
“Yes, I will not say don’t demonstrate or speak from the pulpit, even as you do that, place a lot more emphasis on organising prayers for the country by the churches.”
By: Leticia Osei
