The General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has called on Ghanaians to pray for the restoration of the country’s polluted water bodies and degraded lands, warning that illegal mining could have serious consequences for food security and public health.
Speaking during a church service, the Archbishop expressed concern about the continued destruction of rivers and farmlands through illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
“We’re praying concerning the healing of our water bodies and lands, that our bodies and lands will not be poisoned through this galamsey,” he said.
Archbishop Duncan-Williams warned that the effects of polluted water bodies and degraded farmlands could become severe over time, particularly for agricultural production and food security.
“We need to also pray for our agriculture sector and for the Minister of Agriculture. We need to pray that there will be no food shortage in our land,” he said.
“I’m not just talking about the nations from Togo, Nigeria, Benin and Zimbabwe. We want to specifically pray that there will be no food shortage because the land is being poisoned. Through the poison of the water, we are poisoning the land.”
He cautioned that continued degradation could affect the ability of the land to support agricultural production.
“A time may come where we cannot sow and yield fruit or crops in the land because the land is poisoned. So, it cannot bear fruit. It can’t yield the crops we need,” he said.
The Archbishop also raised concerns about the potential health implications of consuming food produced from contaminated lands, warning that harmful substances from mining activities could enter the food chain.
He further urged Ghanaians to pray for political leaders regardless of their political affiliations, stressing the need for national unity in addressing the country’s challenges.
“It is important to pray for those in authority and for whoever the president is, irrespective of the political party,” he said.
Archbishop Duncan-Williams expressed concern that Ghana’s two-party political system was contributing to division among citizens.
“It looks like this two-party democratic system we are operating is dividing us as a nation and it’s turning us into enemies,” he said.
He called for greater unity and brotherly love among Ghanaians, urging citizens to move away from political bitterness, revenge and division.
