SDA church condemns galamsey, says it hampers baptism
Ghana - The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana is facing a crisis due to the devastating effects of illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
Pastor Edward Nyarkoh, Executive Secretary of the Northern Ghana Union, revealed that the church can no longer perform baptismal services in rivers and streams due to turbidity levels.
This has forced churches to construct baptisteries for new converts, a significant departure from their traditional biblical baptism of immersion.
“Previously, we were baptizing in rivers. But nowadays, all the water bodies are contaminated. Therefore, that has resulted in this church building this baptistery so that all those who would be baptized; pastors who are officiating would not be contaminated,” he said.
The Northern Ghana Union has 2,251 congregants and a total membership of 218,000, with 2,000 new converts baptized recently.
However, the church's soul-winning efforts are being hindered by the negative consequences of galamsey. Pastor Nyarkoh emphasized this concern during the 40th-anniversary celebration of the Bohyen-Kropo branch.
Pastor Edward Nyarkoh is Executive Secretary, Northern Ghana Union of SDA
Pastor Daniel Kyei-Baffuor Junior, President of the Mid-Central Ghana Conference,also urged pastors to strongly condemn galamsey.
“Within my jurisdiction, I am urging all my pastors that they should speak against galamsey. They should act against galamsey. When they see something with regards to galamsey, they should say something”.
“Enough is enough, simply because when we look at the dreadful nature of our environment today, and the effects that galamsey brings upon us, I don’t think we should sit as a people and continue to condone this kind of menace.
The national leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has yet to issue an official statement on galamsey. However, the church's concerns highlight the need for collective action against illegal mining.
Source: Lead News Online
