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Fight against illegal mining: FGCL quotes Jeremiah 2: 7-9 to condemn galamsey
Rt. Rev. Godwin Dela Fiagome
(President – FGCI)
The leadership and members of the Full Gospel Church International have condemned the spate of environmental degradation in the country by illegal miners known in the local parlance as “Galamsey”.
At the 21st Session of the General Council meeting which ended on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Tema in the Greater Accra Region, the church members collectively condemned illegal mining (galamsey) and its devastating effects on land, water bodies and livelihood.
Rt Rev. Godwin DelaFiagome, President of FGCT Quoting Jeremiah 2:7-9 to buttress the stance of the church in the fight against the wanton destruction of the environment said “I brought you into a bountiful country, to eat its fruit and its goodness. But when you entered, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. The priests did not say, “Where is the Lord?” And those who handle the law did not know Me: The rulers also transgressed against Me: The Prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. “Therefore, I will yet bring charges against you,” says the LORD,” And against your children’s children.
“The Galamsey menace has been topical over the years, and we insist that it is a multiple-stakeholder-caused albatross the nation has been grappling with. It has now hit a crescendo, and urgent multiple-stakeholder-solutions are needed to overturn the already derailed negative environmental consequences and associated degenerated livelihood of both present and future Ghanaians. Various organs of State, Ghanaians and the Church have failed to hold in high esteem, our heritage won for us by letting the Galamsey menace ravage our land, water bodies and livelihoods”.
“ It is sad that our nation is reeling under the after-effects of this menace” he said
The man of God said thatGhana, pacesetter in the West African sub-region and beyond on national development, sovereignty and socioeconomic living had become a pale shadow of itself. Stressing that the once-blessed land was now defiled with illegal mining of our mineral resources which is buried underneath the land for which God gifted us for our collective prosperity.
“Our arable land is gifted to produce fruits and goodness to citizens, but has unfortunately become an abomination in the sight of the Creator because the machines and chemicals have defiled and made it unproductive. The chemicals have dripped into our water bodies over time, making them dangerous to human and animal lives.
“How did we get here?From the Executive to Legislature, the Judiciary, the Security agencies and the Pulpit to the ordinary Ghanaian, we have sold our birthright in the galamsey debacle, and we must be ready to undo the negative long-term effects going forward”he said
The General Council has resolved that the Church must continue to be the hope of the nation by the powerful weapons of the love and mercies of God, but God is also just (Psalm 89:14), and Pulpits across the country must sound alarm of the justice of God against all those who continue to defile the land of Ghana, making it an abomination.
In the words of Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost and Guest Speaker at the Opening Service of the General Council on Friday, 21st October, 2022, “the Church owes no one an apology to pray over the defiled land and abominable heritage because that is our major contribution to the problem as a key stakeholder. ”
He said that “If truly those who handle the law in this country know the Lord, we would not be in our current predicament”.
“ God is a righteous judge, and we wish to caution those engaged in the galamsey menace to halt operations because God’s hand of judgement is already stretched against perpetrators of the evil unless they repent. We advise that they consider joining the Small Scale Miners Association to be regulated.
“ we extend a clarion call to government to take immediate steps to engage
stakeholder in charting a new path of progress in the fight against galamsey”.
By Castro Zangina-Tong
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
