From State of Emergency to intercession

The fight against illegal mining or galamsey since the issue gained notoriety in the country has been a chequered story embroiled in intense politicking.

Before the advent of President John Mahama's second term, the fight against the illegal environmental poisoning occupation was fierce, involving owners of big churches and leaders of civil society organisations (CSOs). At the time, the endgame was regime change.

So much mud was splashed at the former regime even as hypocritically the then opposition were busy in the illegal mining areas encouraging the miners to vote for the National Democratic Congress (NDC). They assured them of better days ahead in the event of an opposition electoral triumph.

In the NDC trenches, the so-called neutrals and identifiable men of God sang anti-galamsey tunes, putting up regime change posturing.

Today, with the dirty occupation now on a higher pedestal and the President pointing fingers at his own party supporters of being involved, the hymn has changed in rhythm and tempo.

Those who fired from the NDC trenches in furtherance of a regime change goal have the weapons to the armoury because, after all, the war is over and the NDC is wielding power.

It is said that every war has political undertones directing it.

The decision to go to war itself is a political decision, even though the battle plans are drawn by the Generals.

The galamsey war, like a jigsaw puzzle with pastors, archbishops and even CSOs clothed in neutral garbs busy involved, as pointed out in a previous paragraph, was so clandestinely woven that it took the curious eyes to appreciate it.

No more so. The scene has changed because the fog of war has cleared and those who must be rewarded for their contribution to the regime change effort have been duly and handsomely attended to.

When the war raged, the clarion call was 'Declare State Of Emergency' in the country's El Dorados.

The 'State Of Emergency' was a bait which the former administration was fortunate not to have fallen for.

Today, even though more devastation occasioned by heightened galamsey is being recorded in the gold-bearing areas, the refrain has changed; state of emergency now has been replaced with intercession.

Archbishop Duncan Williams, who did not demand prayers at the time galamsey was not at its peak, has turned to intercession to protect our water bodies. “Let us pray to protect our water bodies and forests from galamsey,” is the Archbishop's new hymn.

That is a soft approach to a subject over which he shouted himself hoarse, and the reason is not far-fetched.

It would be interesting to find out what he would have said if an intercession option had been put before Ghanaians at the time he was busy in the political trenches.

Using the pulpit for partisan ends, the way some do, is a clear deviation from the path of righteousness. God is pure and cannot be mocked. Those who dare shall surely pay dearly – spiritually. Let the pulpit remain pure and devoid of worldly iniquities.

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