The devastating impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is now reaching even the sacred waters of worship, according to the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye.
Speaking at the 48th General Conference on Wednesday, April 22, Apostle Nyamekye painted a worrying picture of how polluted rivers and streams are not only damaging the environment but also interfering with core Christian practices such as water baptism in mining-affected communities.
He revealed that in several districts, the Church has been forced to abandon traditional river baptisms and switch to synthetic rubber pools to continue the sacred rite safely.
“The extensive pollution of water bodies due to illegal mining has hampered traditional water baptism in some mining communities, necessitating a shift to synthetic rubber pools in several districts to carry out the ordinance,” he said.
What was once a symbolic immersion in flowing natural water has, in some areas, become a controlled indoor or enclosed exercise. This change has been driven not by preference, but by necessity.
But the concern, he stressed, goes far beyond church rituals.
Apostle Nyamekye warned that environmental destruction is increasingly disrupting livelihoods within church communities, especially among farmers and fishermen. Unpredictable rainfall patterns, declining cocoa yields, and shifting fish populations, he noted, are steadily weakening local economies.
“These unpredictable environmental conditions, along with the seasonal migration of fish stocks, continue to impact the steady financial growth and stability of affected local assemblies,” he added.
For many congregants, the consequences are both spiritual and economic. Shrinking incomes are making it harder to sustain households and support church activities.
Yet amid the concern, the Church also highlighted its ongoing expansion in social impact initiatives.
By the end of 2025, the Church of Pentecost had established skills development centres in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region and Essam in the Western North Region. These centres are aimed at equipping young people with employable vocational skills.
The Church has also intensified apprenticeship support by sponsoring master craftsmen to train more artisans as part of efforts to address youth unemployment.
Beyond skills training, it continues to invest in national development projects, including health facilities, prison camps, and other infrastructure, which have been handed over to the state as part of its broader social intervention agenda.
As illegal mining continues to reshape Ghana’s environmental and social landscape, the Church of Pentecost says it is adapting, even as concerns grow over what is being lost along the way.
