By Yussif Ibrahim
Ejura (Ash), April 30 GNA – The Ghana Baptist Convention has expressed concern over the widespread environmental destruction caused by illegal mining, warning that the practice poses a significant threat to the lives and well-being of Ghanaians.
Rev. Dr. Charles Owusu Ampofo, President of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference, called on authorities and relevant stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action to halt the existential threat to the citizens and natural resources.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 62nd Ghana Baptist Convention Ministers’ Conference at the Baptist Women’s Retreat and Resource Centre in Ejura, Rev. Ampofo said the lives of Ghanaians should not be jeopardised for the selfish financial gain of few individuals.
The four-day conference, on the theme: “Ministers: Pressing Forward, Finishing Strong,” is designed to offer ministers of the church a time for reflection, spiritual renewal, and recommitment to their pastoral roles.
Rev. Ampofo strongly condemned the environmental degradation being carried out in the name of mining, urging moral voices in society to speak out against the destruction.
He emphasised that while economic hardships exist, they did not justify reckless exploitation of the environment.
“These practices are not only unsustainable, but they rob future generations of their heritage,” he said, urging those who are earning a living from the environment to do so responsibly and sustainably.
He said God created the environment as a habitat and that there would be divine accountability for its management.
Rev. Ampofo recounted disturbing experiences in some villages where residents were forced to rely on sachet water for basic domestic needs due to severe pollution of natural water sources, calling it a “crime against humanity.”
He warned that the ongoing environmental damage painted a negative image of Ghana internationally, undermining the country’s reputation.
“It may be true that jobs are scarce, but that is not a license to destroy the very environment we depend on. Let us preserve it for future generations,” he appealed.
GNA
YI/CA