A senior Ghanaian cleric has issued a sharp rebuke of illegal mining, warning that environmental degradation must not be excused by political allegiance.

Speaking at a Sunday service in Accra, the former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, said religious leaders would continue to denounce so-called “galamsey” activities despite criticism or intimidation.

His remarks follow a recent dispute involving the head of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr. Mary Awusi, who drew backlash after criticizing a Pentecost Church leader for condemning illegal mining. She later apologized.

Rev. Prof. Mante framed the issue as a moral imperative rather than a political one. “If something is a sin, it is a sin, whether under one administration or another,” he said, adding that clergy would not be deterred from speaking out.

He warned that the destruction of water bodies and farmland poses long-term risks to public health and livelihoods, describing the impact as a threat to future generations.
Religious leaders, he said, have a duty to address such concerns independent of partisan considerations.

Source:TheDotNews