'Some of these people doing illegal mining are working with powers' — Duncan-Williams on prayers against galamsey

Founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, says some individuals involved in illegal mining and the illicit gold trade are allegedly working with what he describes as “powers from the other side.”

He said this belief informed his call for prayers for the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) and other institutions involved in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams had earlier warned that GoldBod was facing opposition from what he described as a “very powerful movement” made up of influential individuals with extensive knowledge of the gold trade who were resisting efforts to regulate the sector.

Speaking in an interview with Joy FM, he explained that the spiritual dimension he associates with illegal mining was one of the reasons he had called on Christians to pray for the fight against the practice.

“The aspect of the prayer is the fact that some of these people doing illegal mining are working with powers from the other side. My job is not to police or enforce the law,” he said.

The Archbishop said his role was to pray against what he believes are spiritual forces contributing to the persistence of illegal mining and other activities that are damaging the country.

He cited examples from the Bible to illustrate his view that unseen forces can influence individuals and drive them towards actions that eventually harm both themselves and society.

“And I was giving an example from the Bible perspective how the enemy deceives people, works behind the scenes and get people to self-destruct,” he said.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams, however, stressed that his call for prayer should not be misconstrued as opposition to the enforcement of Ghana’s laws.

He maintained that state institutions must continue to enforce laws against illegal mining and gold smuggling, while Christians should pray for the police, military and other officials responsible for carrying out the enforcement.

He said prayer and law enforcement should therefore work alongside each other in efforts to protect Ghana’s water bodies, forests and other natural resources from the destructive effects of illegal mining.