Rev. Prof Joseph Obiri Yeboah, the former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has addressed the attacks on clergymen following the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost’s galamsey comment.
According to Rev. Prof Mante, the clergy are not afraid of anybody, adding that if something is a sin, it is a sin, whether it is under Akufo-Addo or under Mahama or whoever.
Speaking during a sermon on Sunday, April 26, at the Victory Congregation of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Prof Mante stated, “Tell that woman we’re not afraid of her. It’s not about the party. We’re not afraid of anybody. Like the Pope said, I am not afraid of Trump’s administration… If something is a sin, it is a sin, whether it is under Akufo-Addo or under Mahama or whoever. If it is evil, it is evil”.
“You Ghanaians, you sit there and let the galamsey go on, all your children and grandchildren will die early. The thing is so evil. I don’t understand why.”
Rev. Prof Mante added, “I do remember when I was Chairman of the Christian Council, I went with the current Church of Pentecoast head, we went to the then President and told him that galamsey they should stop.
“I was the one who led the delegation. We talked and talked about it. It’s not just during this administration. It’s not about party issues at all. If people cannot think beyond party, they should stop opening their mouths… We’re not afraid of anybody, no party. We were there before there was a party,” he stressed.
His remarks come after the Ghana Free Zones Authority and a senior National Democratic Congress (NDC) member issued a stern warning to the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye.
According to Dr Mary Awusi, Apostle Eric Nyamekye’s statement is a highly political statement.
She warned that if the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost descends to that level again, they will deal with him as a politician.
Speaking in an interview on Accra FM on April 23, 2026, Dr Mary Awusi stated, “He is a man of God, so we will forgive him, but next time he shouldn’t come so low to that level.
Next time, when he stoops so low and tries to do politics, they will deal with him as a politician. I’ve shown him respect this time as a man of God, but he should know that the statement he made is a highly political statement”.
She further questioned Apostle Eric Nyamekye’s consistency of criticisms about galamsey across different political administrations.
She added, “When Nana Addo was President, if you went to the mining communities, the rivers were like mud. At that time, was he in Ghana or wasn’t he in Ghana? Did he see that or did he not see how the rivers were then?”
“So as a pastor, if the truth is there and you wouldn’t say it, and instead put aside your pastoral duties and put on a political lens to talk, then next time we will treat him as a politician,” she added.
Dr Mary Awusi’s remarks come after Apostle Dr Eric Nyamekye, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, lamented how illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has hampered traditional water 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.
Meanwhile, Apostle Eric Nyamekye has addressed the comments made by Dr Mary Awusi, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority and a senior National Democratic Congress (NDC) member.
According to Apostle Nyamekye, he holds no grudges, suggesting the situation ultimately brought more attention to the church and its mission.
In a post by TV3 Ghana on X stated, “Following a tearful apology from the Chief of Staff on behalf of the government, Apostle Eric Nyamekye has addressed the comments made by Dr Mary Awusi.
Apostle Nyamekye stated he holds no grudges, suggesting the situation ultimately brought more attention to the church and its mission”.
Also, a news card shared by TV3 read, “I have forgiven her. She has only made our church and myself more popular”.
Watch the video below:
‘We’re not afraid of anybody’ – Rev. Prof Mante fumes over attack on clergyman for galamsey comment.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/QRWV9hdZ06
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) April 26, 2026