By Boakye Stephen Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News Canada | August 18,2026
Accra, August 18, 2026 – Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams has clarified that his appeal for prayers over Ghana’s illegal mining crisis is not a call for the state to abandon law enforcement.
The General Overseer of Action Chapel International said prayer should complement the work of the police, military, national security agencies and other institutions responsible for enforcing Ghana’s laws.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, the Archbishop said he believes the galamsey crisis also has a spiritual dimension, particularly because of what he described as the involvement of individuals operating with “powers from the other side.”
He nevertheless stressed that prayer cannot substitute for enforcement.
“I am not saying that the law shouldn’t be applied,” he said.
According to him, his appeal is principally for divine protection and empowerment for those confronting illegal mining networks.
Duncan-Williams claimed that some illegal mining operations involve armed individuals and described the activities as extending beyond isolated mining into organised networks that could pose serious risks to security personnel.
Foreign interests and Ghana’s gold
The Archbishop also raised questions about the commercial interests surrounding Ghana’s gold resources.
He disclosed that some foreign nationals had contacted him seeking assistance to establish communication with the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), claiming that they had previously purchased gold through channels that were no longer available following GoldBod’s establishment.
He said such interactions had heightened his concern about the interests surrounding Ghana’s gold industry.
Duncan-Williams, however, said he could not speak for the motives of those who contacted him and made it clear that he was not involved in gold trading.
“I am a man of God. I don’t do gold business,” he said.
Beyond galamsey: A national discipline problem
The Archbishop argued that Ghana’s difficulties extend beyond illegal mining and reflect a wider problem of weak compliance with laws.
He cited his observations in Kigali, Rwanda, particularly the apparent adherence to road-safety regulations, as an example of how stronger civic discipline can support effective governance.
He maintained that Ghana has laws governing many aspects of public life but often struggles with consistent enforcement and compliance.
Duncan-Williams consequently called on Ghanaians to regard the fight against galamsey as a national responsibility.
He urged citizens to pray for President John Mahama, GoldBod officials, the military, police and national security personnel involved in the campaign.
COMMENTARY
The Archbishop’s position brings together spiritual mobilisation and state enforcement. The critical issue for Ghana is ensuring that prayer complements, rather than distracts from, intelligence-led policing, financial investigations, prosecution and responsible mining.
