Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has disclosed that rampant illegal mining activities has impacted religious practices of the Pentecost Church, noting that pollution of water bodies is affecting traditional baptism rites in some communities.
According to him, the widespread contamination of rivers and streams due to illegal mining activities has made it unsafe for the Church to conduct water baptism in several mining areas.
Delivering the State of the Church Address at the 48th General Conference on Wednesday, April 22, he noted that as a result, some districts have been forced to adopt alternative methods, including the use of synthetic rubber pools, to perform baptism.
“The extensive pollution of water bodies due to illegal mining has hampered traditional water baptism in some mining communities, necessitating a shift to synthetic rubber pools in several in several districts to carry out the ordinance,” he stated.
Beyond its impact on religious practices, he noted that environmental challenges are also taking a toll on economic activities, particularly in farming communities.
Apostle Nyamekye explained that erratic rainfall patterns and the declining productivity of cocoa farms have disrupted the livelihoods of many church members who depend on agriculture for survival.
““Unfavourable rainfall patterns and the deterioration of cocoa farmers have disestablished the livelihoods of members who depend on agriculture and farming.”
He added that these challenges, coupled with the seasonal migration of fisherfolk, are undermining the financial stability of local assemblies, affecting both individual incomes and collective economic growth within affected communities.
“These unpredictable environmental conditions, along with the seasonal migration of fisherfolks, continue to impact the steady financial growth and stability of affected local assemblies.”
