The Reverend Professor Kwamena Sagoe, a Priest Assistant, Saint Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church, in Dansoman, Accra, has called for the depoliticisation of the fight against illegal mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey,’ to ensure the menace was completely erased.
He said dealing with the canker required a united front, stressing that it was the only way the country could win the fight and reverse its impacts on the environment.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 50th Anniversary launch of the St. Augustine Anglican Church, at the weekend, Rev Sagoe urged all political parties and civil society organisations (CSOs) to bury their differences and work together to eradicate the menace.
“I think that it has come to a time when we should take the political tag off galamsey completely…whether you like it or not, the galamsey issue comes with votes. We can’t hide from it.’’
“And so, if we manage and we are strong enough to take the political tag off and sit together, and what I mean is all the political parties sit together with the CSOs and other groups, I have a strong feeling that we’ll be able to make progress because, you see, Ghanaians will see us as fighting one cause,” he said.
The 50th Anniversary celebration is on the theme: “Called to Love, Serve and Share; The Great Commission Continues…”
St Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church was founded on May 23, 1976, with a congregation size of 35 persons.
Rev Sagoe said over the past 50 years, the Church had played significant role in shaping the lives of many and leading them to Jesus Christ, amid its numerous challenges.
The impact, he said, was also felt at the national level where many of its congregants served in various positions, both in the public and private sectors, and contributing their quota to national development.
While lauding the founding members of the church for their selfless service and sacrifices to the church, he urged the congregation, particularly the youth, to emulate those attributes by contributing their quota, no matter how little, to facilitate growth of the church.
Going forward, Rev Sagoe gave the assurance that it would ramp up outreach programmes to win more souls for Jesus Christ.
He called for more investments in the youth to propel the growth of the church.
“… If a church wants to grow, it has to invest in its youth, it has to invest in the people who are there – the elderly, there are different stages and there are different needs,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say we have done everything, but, as for work, I know there’s work for us to do.”
Outlining activities earmarked for the 50th anniversary celebration, Mr Samuel Victor Quao, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said the activities range from evangelism, social events, charity intervention, as well as fundraising for an “events centre.”
Additionally, he disclosed that the church intended to support the Dansoman Polyclinic, its first meeting place when it was established five decades ago.
“You know, 50 years in any institution’s life is worth celebrating. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do. We’re going to have a great celebration,” he assured.
Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, a Justice of the Supreme Court, and daughter of one of the founding fathers of the Church, urged the members not to depart from its core mandate of leading people to Christ, to ensure many were “saved.”
GNA
