“Galamseyers Are Devils! St. Sark Explodes”
The Founder and Leader of Open Arms Ministries, St. Sark, has called for tougher and more decisive measures to tackle the growing menace of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, describing its operators as “nation wreckers” whose activities threaten Ghana’s environment and future.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the church’s premises at South Suntreso near Bantama in the Ashanti Region, St. Sark said the extent of environmental destruction caused by galamsey had reached alarming levels, demanding an urgent national response.
According to him, illegal mining continues to destroy rivers, forests, and farmlands across the country, undermining the livelihoods of farmers and putting the health of communities at risk. He cited major rivers such as the Pra, Offin, Ankobra, and Birim, which have become heavily polluted by mercury and other chemicals used in mining.
“Our water bodies are dying, our lands are bleeding, and our leaders appear silent,” he lamented. “If we don’t act now, we may soon lose the very resources that sustain our nation.”
The outspoken cleric urged the government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, to take bold and impartial steps in dealing with the situation, insisting that the law must apply equally to all persons involved, regardless of political or social status.
In what he described as a “practical solution,” Apostle St. Sark proposed the deployment of armed drones to monitor and secure mining zones.
“Let drones patrol the mining sites day and night,” he suggested. “If anyone dares go there to destroy our land, the drones will stop them. That’s the only language some people understand.”
He also reacted strongly to recent comments attributed to former President Mahama that galamsey provides more jobs than agriculture — remarks he described as “a slap in the face to hardworking farmers.”
“Our farmers feed the nation through honest labour,” he stressed. “They work under the scorching sun to sustain families, yet galamseyers destroy the very soil and rivers that make farming possible. That cannot be called progress.”
St. Sark further blamed corruption and weak enforcement for the persistence of illegal mining, adding that both politicians and traditional leaders must demonstrate commitment in protecting the environment.
He called for a national campaign involving churches, traditional authorities, and the media to restore public consciousness about the importance of safeguarding natural resources.
“The fight against galamsey is not just a government responsibility,” he said. “It is a moral duty for every Ghanaian. The land is our inheritance from God — if we destroy it, we destroy ourselves.”
