Methodist Church calls for action beyond prayers to tackle galamsey

The Methodist Church of Ghana has called for stronger action against illegal mining, warning that the destruction of farmland and pollution of water bodies pose a serious threat to the country.

The Church’s Presiding Bishop, Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, said religious leaders needed to play a more active role in confronting the environmental damage caused by galamsey.

He was speaking at the opening of the Methodist Church Ghana’s 52nd Conference in 2026.

The bishop linked the issue to the recent devastating floods in Ghana, saying they had exposed weaknesses in how Christians understood their responsibility towards the environment.

“The recent, devastating deluge in the country exposed the inadequate conception of Christian stewardship and responsibility that we have worked with,” he said.

He described the destruction of arable land and pollution of water bodies through illegal mining as issues that fell within the Church’s prophetic responsibility to society.

The bishop said the Church’s commitment to environmental protection should not stop at public statements.

“Our vision and mission statements must not remain empty slogans,” he said, arguing that the Church should pray, work towards its objectives and assess whether its interventions were producing measurable results.

Call for practical intervention

The Methodist Church leader urged religious institutions to deepen their advocacy and introduce practical interventions aimed at protecting Ghana’s natural resources.

His comments come amid continuing concerns about the environmental impact of illegal mining, particularly the destruction of farmland and pollution of water bodies.

For communities affected by these activities, the issue extends beyond environmental protection, as damage to agricultural land and water resources can affect livelihoods and access to essential resources.

The bishop did not outline specific new anti-galamsey measures to be implemented by the Methodist Church.

Instead, he called for a broader approach in which religious institutions accept greater responsibility for environmental stewardship and measure the impact of their actions.

The comments also place the Church's role in the galamsey debate within its wider responsibility to speak on issues affecting Ghanaian society.

What happens next?

The Methodist Church says religious institutions need to strengthen their advocacy and practical efforts to protect Ghana’s natural resources.

The challenge will be turning that call into concrete interventions capable of making a measurable difference to communities affected by illegal mining.