Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Kwasi Amoafo, a lecturer in the B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. Theology programs of Global University, USA, and St. Paul's University, Nairobi has called on the church to take a leading role in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in Ghana.

He advocates for active collaboration between the church and the government to tackle the crisis through proper regulation and the provision of sustainable alternatives.

In an interview on The Point of View on Channel One TV, on Monday, September 30, Rev. Dr. Amoafo stressed the importance of the church in raising awareness, urging religious leaders to use their platforms to educate Ghanaians—particularly those involved in illegal mining—on the need to protect the environment and safeguard water bodies.

When asked whether 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."

He further encouraged the church to engage with the government directly, highlighting the influence religious institutions hold over the Ghanaian populace.

“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," he remarked.

Rev. Dr. Amoafo pointed out that the church should not only call for regulation but also propose viable alternatives to illegal mining. “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],” he explained.

In his message, Rev. Dr. Amoafo urged the church to set aside political divisions and unite to combat the galamsey menace. He stressed that the church has a divine mandate to lead by example, referencing biblical teachings.

“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,” he noted.

Rev. Dr. Amoafo also encouraged the church to pray for divine intervention in the upcoming 2024 general elections, seeking a leader who will uphold values of 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,” he urged.

He added, “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.”

Rev. Dr. Amoafo's call is expected to inspire greater church participation in the ongoing fight against illegal mining, providing a moral and spiritual foundation for addressing the environmental crisis in Ghana.