Apostle Dr Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, has lamented how illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has forced the Church to stop traditional river baptism.
According to Apostle Dr Eric Nyamekye, galamsey activities have hampered traditional water baptism in some mining communities.
He highlighted that the Church of Pentecost have now shifted to synthetic rubber pools in several districts to carry out the ordinance.
Apostle Eric Nyamekye, speaking during his State of the Church Address at the 48th General Conference on April 22, 2026, highlighted the persistent destruction of Ghana’s water.
The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost stated, “The extensive pollution of water bodies due to illegal mining has hampered traditional water baptism in some mining communities, necessitating a shift to synthetic rubber pools in several districts to carry out the ordinance,” he stated.
In related galamsey news, Ntebe Ayo William, the Member of Parliament for Tatale-Sanguli, has boldly stated that illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, cannot be entirely eradicated in Ghana.
According to the Tatale-Sanguli MP, Ghana can only minimise the impact of galamsey through targeted interventions.
He noted that earlier forms of illegal mining involved basic tools, which caused less environmental damage, adding that the increased use of chanfans and earth-moving equipment like excavators has significantly worsened the scale of destruction.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, he explained, “What is galamsey at all? Galamsey is illegal mining. So, if I go to my farm and there is gold there and I decide to mine my gold, that is illegal, that is galamsey. We will control that one. The government is on the point to stop mining in water bodies and in the forest”.
“… you cannot stop galamsey in Ghana. To be honest with you, you can only minimise it. How do you end it? We are fighting it, and we are fighting it in two ways: water and forest. Don’t destroy the forest, don’t pollute the water,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nana Ama Brown Klutse, has said $35 million will be required to completely restore the Birim River.
The EPA boss made this known during the pilot application of ionic nano copper technology on the Birim River.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nana Ama Brown Klutse, the Nano-liquid technology will cost the state $200,000 per kilometre of flowing river to clean galamsey-polluted water.
The EPA boss described the Nano Copper as a game changer, noting $200,000 was spent, and that sustained support could lower water treatment costs.
The initiative is designed to test a copper-based nano liquid technology as a scientifically backed method for cleaning rivers severely affected by illegal mining activities, often referred to as galamsey.
Based on the outcomes of this initial trial, the EPA plans to expand the project to other heavily polluted rivers, including the Ankobra, Pra, and Offin.
Speaking in an interview on Chanel One TV, Nana Ama Brown Klutse stated, “It took us about $200,000 to procure an amount that will clean one kilometre of every flowing river body. The Birim River is about 175 kilometres, so you can do the mathematics, we are talking about $35 million”.
Watch the video below:
“If Eric Nyamekye descends to that level again, we will deal with him as a politician.”
— 𝐀𝐒𝐊 (@askghmedia) April 24, 2026
— Dr. Mary Awusi, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, issues a stern warning to the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, after he highlighted how rampant galamsey… pic.twitter.com/3gSbmnkdrw