The General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has linked Ghana’s illegal mining crisis to what he describes as a broader culture of indiscipline, weak compliance with laws and inadequate accountability.
He argued that the galamsey menace should not be treated as an isolated problem but as part of a wider national challenge in which laws and regulations exist but are often disregarded or poorly enforced.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, August 17, 2026, Archbishop Duncan-Williams said observations during a recent visit to Kigali, Rwanda, had prompted him to reflect on Ghana’s approach to discipline and compliance.
He cited the widespread use of helmets by motorcycle riders in Kigali as an example of how stronger respect for regulations could encourage compliance among citizens.
According to him, Ghana’s challenge extends beyond illegal mining to a general failure to observe rules intended to protect citizens and promote social order.
“We are not compliance-driven people,” he said.
“There is a lot of indiscipline in the whole atmosphere in our upbringing.”
Galamsey and Weak Enforcement
Archbishop Duncan-Williams said the culture of indiscipline had contributed to the difficulty in addressing illegal mining, noting that galamsey involves individuals as well as networks and interests that can resist enforcement.
He said some illegal miners were armed and described the activities as involving a wider network.
“These people who are doing illegal mining are armed, and it’s a whole cartel to itself, and it’s not just that,” he said.
He also expressed concern that efforts to enforce laws against illegal mining could quickly become politicised when citizens fail to appreciate the importance of responsibility and accountability.
The Archbishop argued that the fight against galamsey should therefore not be reduced to partisan politics but treated as a national responsibility requiring discipline and accountability from individuals, businesses and state institutions.
“When people don’t appreciate and understand that being responsible and accountable in what they are doing is necessary and important, that becomes another matter,” he said.
‘The Problem Touches Everything’
Archbishop Duncan-Williams said changing Ghana’s culture of indiscipline would require sustained effort because the problem was deeply rooted in society.
He cautioned against expecting quick solutions to a challenge that affects several aspects of national life, including compliance with laws, attitudes towards public resources and environmental protection.
“It is a very serious issue that if we are going to tackle this it will take a lot of time and days because it touches everything,” he said.
He stressed that responsibility for addressing the galamsey crisis should not rest solely with the government and law-enforcement agencies.
The Church, he said, also had an important role to play by educating its members on responsible citizenship and the consequences of their actions.
“Education. That is why I am bringing up this subject,” he said when asked what the Church could do beyond prayer to address illegal mining.
He noted that religious institutions have significant influence because their congregations comprise citizens who participate in various aspects of national life.
“The people who come to church are the citizens. They do everything in the country. They run the country,” he said.
Galamsey as ‘Self-Destruction’
The Archbishop warned that the consequences of illegal mining extend beyond the immediate economic benefits, particularly because of the damage being caused to water bodies, farmlands and the wider environment.
He described the continued degradation of Ghana’s natural resources as an act of national self-destruction that could have serious consequences for future generations.
“I am telling the people that we need to pray to deal with whatever is responsible for the lawlessness, and I was giving them examples of the Bible perspective on how the enemy defeats people, works behind the scenes and gets people to self-destruct, because what we are doing is self-destruction and eventually it will have serious implications on future generations,” he said.
He clarified that his call for prayer should not be interpreted as opposition to law enforcement.
“So I am not saying that the law shouldn’t be applied,” he said.
“I’m saying that we should pray for those who are enforcing the law to be empowered to do their job because it’s a very risky job.”
Archbishop Duncan-Williams also called for greater public education on the environmental consequences of irresponsible mining.
He warned that the economic gains from gold could ultimately become meaningless if the natural resources and environment needed to sustain communities were destroyed.
He urged citizens to pursue economic opportunities responsibly while considering the environmental impact of their activities.
“Nobody is telling you don’t do this, but do it in the right way and be accountable, and not just by making money but also be concerned about the environment where you live in,” he said.
The Archbishop urged Ghanaians to recognise that tackling galamsey requires more than arrests and enforcement, arguing that a lasting solution would also depend on changing attitudes towards discipline, responsibility, accountability and respect for the law.
