Former President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Rev. Professor Paul Frimpong-Manso, has raised serious alarm over the ongoing illegal mining (galamsey) activities in Ghana, which are causing severe damage to the country’s water bodies.
In an impassioned statement, he warned that if the issue is not addressed immediately, it could lead to catastrophic consequences for both current and future generations.
“We are sitting on a time bomb. It is a disaster. We are committing a national genocide, not only against ourselves but against generations yet unborn,” Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso declared during an interview on JoyNews’ Upfront on Thursday, September 5.
He criticized the inability of both major political parties—the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC)—to effectively address the galamsey menace. He expressed frustration over the lack of decisive action in the manifestos of both parties, which have failed to make significant strides in tackling illegal mining.
Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso highlighted the inconsistency in the enforcement of laws and questioned the actions of those in positions of authority, including the police, the Mining Commission, and government officials.
Referring to recent bold moves by traditional leaders, he asked, “If Otumfuo could recently sack three chiefs, if two journalists can go and arrest some people and bring them to justice, if a king in the Eastern Region can just order bulldozers to be burned, what about those who control the police, the Mining Commission, the Minister, the District Chief Executives (DCEs), and the rest?”
The reverend pointed to a widespread institutional failure, insisting that no amount of political rhetoric could compensate for the lack of concrete action. He urged political leaders and institutions to prioritize immediate, firm measures to end galamsey activities.
Turning his attention to religious leaders, Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso issued a strong call to action.
“As for the Church leaders, please, we are the conscience of the nation. We must either keep quiet and sink together with the populace… So, to my fellow church leaders, we must preach the truth. People may hate us, fight us, or not understand us, but that is what Desmond Tutu and others did to liberate South Africa from apartheid,” he stated.
The former council president warned that illegal mining has become even more dangerous, calling on the Church to go beyond mere preaching and take a more active stance in defending the nation. He emphasized that the environmental damage caused by galamsey is pushing the country toward what he described as “national doom.”
In his final plea, Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso urged church leaders to show visible signs of protest and solidarity by wearing red bands and demonstrating to draw attention to the issue.
“Our nation is being destroyed. We are heading toward national doom, and it’s better late than never. I hope that by this coming Sunday, church leaders will wear red bands, go out, and demonstrate—even if it is to the Jubilee House or elsewhere,” he urged.