The General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has called for prayers for the restoration of Ghana’s polluted water bodies and degraded lands, warning that the continued destruction caused by illegal mining could eventually threaten the country’s food security and public health.

During a church service, Archbishop Duncan-Williams made the impact of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, a major prayer point, expressing concern that the contamination of water bodies and agricultural land could have far-reaching consequences for the country.

“We are praying concerning the healing of our water bodies and the land, that our water bodies and our land will not be poisoned through this galamsey,” he said.

The Archbishop warned that the impact of galamsey could extend beyond the visible destruction of rivers and farmlands to affect Ghana’s capacity to produce safe food.

“So, 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,” he cautioned.

According to him, continued contamination of water and soil could affect crops produced in farming communities and ultimately expose consumers to harmful substances.

“It can't yield the crops we need, and even if it does, because the land is poisoned, the food we are eating- the tomatoes, the yam, the kontomire, the pepper, everything that comes from outside of the main city, they are eventually, if nothing happens, they keep being poisoned,” he said.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams particularly expressed concern about mercury contamination associated with illegal mining and the potential health implications for consumers.

“We will be eating mercury. We will be eating mercury. It will enter your system. You are eating, and you think it's exciting, but you don't know what you are eating,” he warned.

He stressed that addressing the environmental consequences of galamsey should not be regarded solely as the responsibility of politicians, urging citizens and religious bodies to also play their part.

“These are things that we just can't leave it to the politician only,” he said.

The Archbishop also called for prayers for Ghana’s agricultural sector and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, expressing concern about the possibility of food shortages if the degradation of agricultural land continues.

“And 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.

While Ghana remained his immediate concern, Archbishop Duncan-Williams extended his call to other African countries facing environmental and food security challenges.

“So, I'm not just talking about Ghana. Ghana is number one on my priority, but the nations from Togo, Nigeria, Benin, and Zimbabwe, Malawi, you name them. 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 stated.

Calls for political unity

Archbishop Duncan-Williams also used the prayer session to raise concerns about political polarisation in Ghana, arguing that partisan divisions were increasingly creating hostility among citizens.

He urged Christians to pray for people in authority and support whoever occupies the presidency, irrespective of their political affiliation.

“And that's why I keep saying it is important to pray for those in authority and for whoever the president is, irrespective of the political party,” he said.

According to him, Ghana’s predominantly two-party political system appeared to be deepening divisions in the country.

“Because it looks like this two-party democratic system we are operating is dividing us as a nation and it's turning us into enemies. So, we hate one another,” he observed.

He called for a political culture in which national unity and mutual respect take precedence over bitterness and the desire for political revenge.

“But I pray that there shall come a day where we will be united and brotherly love will prevail among us. Instead of this division and bitterness and a sense of ‘I will show you’ and a sense of revenge,” he said.

Describing the level of division as unhealthy, Archbishop Duncan-Williams added: “It's just too much sickness in this system,” before leading the congregation in prayer.