A respected lecturer, author, and preacher, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Kwasi Amoafo, has called for increased collaboration between the church and the government to tackle Ghana’s galamsey crisis, or illegal mining.
He advocates for the church to provide sustainable alternatives through effective regulation and intervention.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, September 30, Rev. Dr. Amoafo emphasized the church’s crucial role in raising awareness.
He urged religious leaders to use their platforms to educate the public, especially those engaged in illegal mining, on the importance of protecting the environment and conserving water resources.
When asked if the church should take a stronger stand on environmental issues, Rev. Dr. Amoafo responded, “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 called for the church to put aside political differences and unite in the fight against the galamsey menace, advocating for a collective approach as one body. He emphasized this point by stating, “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 urged the church to pray for the emergence of God’s chosen leader in the upcoming 2024 general elections, emphasizing the need for divine guidance in selecting a leader committed to promoting 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.”