The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has called on the country to adopt a bipartisan approach in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, insisting that the environmental and economic damage caused by the practice affects all Ghanaians regardless of political affiliation.
The Moderator spoke on the Church’s National Red Sunday campaign, observed on June 14, explaining the origins of the initiative and defending it against suggestions that the Church’s continued advocacy against galamsey risks being interpreted through a partisan lens.
Asked whether the observance of Red Sunday this year was a spontaneous decision or one that went through the Church’s formal structures, the Moderator explained that the campaign forms part of a broader, sustained position the Church has maintained on galamsey, communicated in part through social media outreach to raise awareness of the initiative.
He noted that the Church had moved its annual symposium on the issue away from Accra this year, holding it instead in Tarkwa, a mining-affected area, where discussions centred on the damage galamsey is inflicting on affected communities and the country more broadly.
According to the Moderator, National Red Sunday followed shortly after the Tarkwa symposium as a continuation of that engagement.
Government has The Capacity to Act, Moderator Says
The Moderator was direct in his assessment of government’s capacity to address the problem, stating that the state possesses both the political authority and operational capability to bring galamsey under control if it chooses to act decisively.
“Government has the political power and the might to crush galamsey if government wants to crush galamsey.”
Rt. Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye
He expressed concern that the country as a whole has not shown adequate collective anger or urgency in confronting the problem, despite its far-reaching consequences, including the destruction of mining-affected communities, pollution of water bodies, and the significant public expenditure now required to treat contaminated water supplies.
Church Rejects Framing of Anti-Galamsey Advocacy as Partisan
Addressing concerns that the Church’s advocacy could be perceived as politically motivated, particularly given past instances where religious leaders’ comments on galamsey drew pushback from state officials, the Moderator maintained that the Presbyterian Church’s position has remained consistent regardless of which political party holds power.
He noted that the first National Red Sunday was observed in 2024, at a time when the current governing party was still in opposition, arguing that this timeline demonstrates the Church’s advocacy has never been aligned with a particular political side.
He said the Church does not track who supports or opposes its position, but remains focused solely on the welfare and development of the nation.
“We are not partisan, we are consistent, and we will condemn galamsey until it stops, regardless of which party is in government.”
Rt. Rev. Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye
He added that the Church’s approach has been reinforced by encouragement from government representatives, including a special guest of honour who attended on behalf of the President and urged the Church to remain consistent in its advocacy.
He further noted that the country’s Chief of Staff had previously observed that polluted water does not discriminate along party lines, a point the Moderator said underscored why the fight against galamsey should transcend partisan considerations.
Calls for A State of Emergency
Responding to questions about calls from some quarters for government to declare a state of emergency to enable a more forceful clampdown on galamsey, the Moderator said he remained uncertain about what such a declaration would practically achieve.
He stressed that his priority was not a particular legal or administrative mechanism, but tangible results, cleaner water bodies and safe, good-quality local food and export produce.
He said the ultimate measure of success in the fight against galamsey should be outcomes on the ground rather than the specific instruments used to pursue them.
The discussion also touched briefly on whether the Church’s recent communiqué addressed road safety, amid growing concern over Ghana’s road crash statistics.
The Moderator acknowledged that the country’s road safety record remains a serious concern when compared with other nations, indicating that the issue features among the broader set of national challenges the Church continues to monitor and speak on.
READ MORE: Growing Indiscipline in Schools Reflects Wider Societal Decline – Rt. Rev Kwakye
