The Vice President of The Apostolic Church Ghana, Apostle Christopher Affum Nyarko, has called for the support of all stakeholders in the country in the fight against illegal mining.
He said the government alone could not fight illegal mining, and would require the support of all including chiefs, community leaders, non-governmental organizations, and academia, media and development partners to combat the menace.
Speaking at the 15th Anniversary celebration of Konongo Odumasi district of the church in Asante Akyem Central Municipal of the Ashanti region, Apostle Nyarko said the church must collaborate with communities, traditional leaders, civil society and all important stakeholders to foster collective ownership of fight against illegal mining.
Ghana’s forests, minerals, and water bodies, the deputy minister said were under siege, and deforestation, degradation, pollution, and climate change continued to threaten not just our ecosystems but our very livelihoods.
He added that galamsey has reached crisis levels, stripping the country of its lands, biodiversity, poisoning rivers, and endangering public health.
Apostle Nyarko again touched on fighting corruption saying is a multi-faceted effort involving legal frameworks, institutional reforms, and public awareness and by implementing these strategies, Ghana can work towards creating a more transparent, accountable, and ethical environment, fostering sustainable development and good governance.
The head pastor in the district, Pastor Emmanuel Oduro also encouraged Christians or being a politician, to actively pursue Christ-like character striving to reflect Jesus’ attributes in their thoughts, actions, and interactions with others.
