The 19th Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has issued a strong call to action against illegal mining and corruption, describing them as two “demons” haunting Ghana.
He made the remarks during the 87th Speech and Prize Giving Day of Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC), Legon, on November 29, 2025, where outstanding staff and students were honoured.
Addressing the gathering, the Moderator expressed grave concern over the destructive impact of illegal mining on the nation.
“One of the demons haunting Ghana is the demon of galamsey. It is destroying our water bodies and affecting the health of our people,” he said.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye praised the academic excellence that PRESEC instills in its students, noting that Odadeɛ alumni have risen to influential positions across key national sectors.
He therefore urged all PRESEC old students working within or connected to the mining industry to take responsibility in the national fight.
“I call on all Odadeɛs, wherever you are, especially those connected to the mining sector, to ensure that we do not just talk about galamsey but we crush it,” he stressed.
He further appealed to both public and private sector leaders to unite in confronting the illegal mining crisis.
“We call on all actors in the industry to come together to crush galamsey to save the nation,” he added, expressing hope that committed leadership would apply the right measures to end the menace.
Turning his focus to corruption, the Moderator said the country’s inability to address the issue stems from political bias. “This demon, we are unable to deal with because we have agreed that it will be tackled based on the colour of our T-shirt,” he stated, referring to partisan affiliations. “If we all agree that no matter the colour of your political T-shirt we will come together to deal with corruption, we will save money and move forward as a country.”
He concluded by calling on everyone to rise to the challenge and collaborate in confronting both illegal mining and corruption, emphasizing that collective action is essential to securing Ghana’s future.
Debate On Religion In Senior High Schools
Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye urged Ghanaians to remain committed to religious tolerance and mutual respect.
Addressing the gathering, Rt. Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye said Ghana has long been a model of interfaith harmony, and the current tensions risk undermining that legacy.
“In Ghana, Christians and Muslims have lived together harmoniously for decades,” he stressed. “Muslims do not mind going to church, and Christians do not mind visiting Muslims. Even the National Chief Imam visited the Catholic Church during the celebration of his 100th birthday.”
He recounted his own experiences fostering interfaith unity. “When I served as Chairperson of the Ga Presbytery, we visited the Chief Imam every year during Ramadan, and the Muslim community also paid reciprocal visits,” he said. “These acts of mutual respect have kept peace in our communities and in our schools.”
The Moderator emphasized that mission schools were established by faith-based institutions to uphold specific values, and historically, students from other religious backgrounds have respected those foundations. Quoting lines from the PRESEC anthem, he noted that the Christian training offered in such schools forms part of their identity and ethos.
He warned that recent public commentary has been inflamed by “a few people who have chosen to stir emotions and create unnecessary problems,” adding that some responses “do not promote national peace.”
Rt. Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye concluded with a call for balance and understanding: “It is important to respect the rights of persons of other religions. At the same time, those who access education in mission schools must respect the rights and identity of the owners of these schools. If we do this together, we will stay on the path of social cohesion, which is essential for national development.”
He further prayed that national leaders “will recognise these principles at all times and ensure that the right things are done” to safeguard Ghana’s longstanding culture of peaceful coexistence.
Appeal for Support For PRESEC-Legon
Rt. Rev. Dr. Opare Kwakye used the opportunity to appeal to the government to support PreSec-Legon with infrastructure.
He indicated that the existing infrastructure cannot contain the number of students admitted by the school and it will be imperative that the government invest in infrastructure.
Rt. Rev. Dr Opare Kwakye urged the private sector and parents to also contribute to ensure that the school gets the needed infrastructure to train human resources.
