Rev. Enoch Adjei Pobee (left), outgoing Chairman, Ga West Presbytery, PCG, introducing Rev. David Sowateye Obli, the Chairperson-elect, at the Presbytery Session

Galamsey impact time bomb for Ghana - Ga West Presbytery PCG cautions

Daily Graphic May - 15 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The outgoing Chairman of the Ga West Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rev. Enoch Adjei Pobee, has issued a caution on the growing threat of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, describing it as a looming national disaster with devastating consequences.

He said Ghana was “sitting on a time bomb” due to the unchecked destruction of the environment, with the widespread pollution of water bodies with toxic mercury, extensive land degradation associated with galamsey, posing serious health implications.

Delivering his address at the 10th Presbytery Session held at the Trinity Congregation, Kwashieman, Rev. Pobee warned that the long-term effects of environmental destruction could have intergenerational consequences, threatening livelihoods and the sustainability of communities.

“The church cannot afford to be silent,” he emphasised, calling for a strong prophetic voice against the menace.

“If we fail to act now, we risk a future where the environment is devastated, and there are no congregations left to minister to,” he said.

The Ga West Presbytery was created following a proposal by Rev. Dr Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor and approved by the General Assembly at the Ramseyer Training Centre in 2014.

It was officially inaugurated on June 12, 2016, by Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey.

The four-day session, attended by about 250 delegates and observers, was held on the theme: “Celebrating our heritage: building on the foundation already laid”.
Standards of sermon

With regard to helping Christians to build up their spiritual strength, Rev. Pobee raised concerns about declining standards in sermon preparation among some ministers.

He stated that in today’s media-driven environment, congregants were increasingly discerning and expect well-prepared and spiritually enriching messages.

He urged ministers to dedicate themselves to prayerful study and thorough preparation, stressing that the pulpit must remain a place of integrity and excellence.

He further cautioned against complacency, especially as some congregations faced declining membership.

Addressing internal divisions, Rev. Pobee expressed concern about persistent ethnic and tribal sentiments within the church, reminding members that the church had long moved beyond such divisions, referencing the historic 1918 Synod at Akropong, which laid the foundation for unity.

He stressed that linguistic affiliations such as Twi and Ga must not influence church relationships or decision-making processes.

The address also pointed to administrative inefficiencies, including delays in responding to official communications and failure to submit required reports, which hindered the implementation of the Presbytery’s Strategic Plan.

Giving an overview of the presbytery, the youngest of the PCG presbyteries, Rev. Pobee said, despite the challenges it faced, the presbytery celebrated remarkable growth since its establishment in 2016.

He said membership had grown to over 120,000, with the number of districts increasing from 11 to 23.