Galamsey Fight: Pray and enforce the law — Duncan-Williams

Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams has defended his recent call for national prayers against illegal mining and gold smuggling, insisting that his position should not be misconstrued as opposition to the enforcement of Ghana’s laws. The General Overseer of Action Chapel International said the country’s battle against galamsey requires both decisive law enforcement and spiritual support, arguing that security agencies confronting heavily armed illegal mining syndicates deserve protection and strength in carrying out their duties.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday August 17, the Archbishop stressed that his role as a religious leader was not to police or prosecute offenders but to mobilize prayer for those leading the fight. “I’m not saying that the law shouldn’t be applied. I’m saying we should pray for those enforcing the law to be empowered to do their job because it is a very risky job,” he said. He explained that his earlier appeal for prayer was rooted in his belief that some illegal mining operators were influenced by spiritual forces, making the crisis more than a conventional criminal enterprise. According to him, prayer should complement the work of the military, police, national security and other institutions rather than substitute for legal action.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams described illegal mining as a sophisticated criminal network involving armed groups capable of resisting state authority. He warned that the activities of these syndicates posed serious risks to officers deployed to protect Ghana’s forests, rivers and mineral resources. He said the dangerous nature of these operations made it imperative for Ghanaians to rally behind security personnel instead of treating the fight against galamsey as a purely political issue. The Archbishop also revealed that conversations with foreign nationals had heightened his concerns about the international interests surrounding Ghana’s gold sector. He recounted receiving calls from individuals seeking his assistance to establish contact with the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) after reforms disrupted previous channels through which they had purchased Ghanaian gold.

While acknowledging the requests, he emphasized that he had consistently declined any involvement. “I am a man of God. I don’t do gold business,” he said. Beyond illegal mining, Archbishop Duncan-Williams argued that Ghana’s challenges reflect a wider culture of weak compliance with laws and public responsibility. Drawing on observations from Kigali, Rwanda, he cited the widespread adherence to road safety regulations, including the consistent use of motorcycle helmets, as an example of how discipline can become embedded in a society. He maintained that Ghana already has many of the necessary laws but often falls short in enforcing them consistently, allowing indiscipline to flourish across multiple sectors. According to him, meaningful change will require sustained national commitment to accountability, responsible citizenship and respect for the rule of law.

The Archbishop urged Ghanaians to view the fight against galamsey as a collective responsibility rather than a partisan debate. He called for continued support for the President, GoldBod leadership, security agencies and all officials directly involved in protecting the country’s natural resources. He also stressed that prayer should be understood as a source of protection and moral strength for those risking their lives on the frontline, while the full force of the law is applied against illegal miners and gold smugglers. For Archbishop Duncan-Williams, the solution lies not in choosing between faith and enforcement, but in allowing both to work together in safeguarding Ghana’s environment and mineral wealth.

By: Joyce Owusu