The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr. Mary Awusi, has criticised comments by the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, describing them as political and cautioning him to stay within his religious role.
Her remarks follow concerns raised by Apostle Nyamekye over the destruction of Ghana’s water bodies through illegal mining, widely known as galamsey.
Speaking at the Church’s 48th General Conference, he warned that pollution of rivers and streams was disrupting key religious practices such as water baptism and affecting the livelihoods of members, particularly those in farming and fishing communities.
Reacting to the comments in an interview on Accra FM on Thursday, April 23, Dr. Awusi said that although she respects the Church leader, his statements crossed into political territory.
“He’s a man of God, so we will forgive him. But next time, he should not stoop so low. If he descends to that level and behaves like a politician, we will deal with him as a politician,” she said.
She stressed that her respect for Apostle Nyamekye is rooted in his role as a religious leader, but maintained that his recent remarks were inappropriate.
“I have shown him respect because he is a man of God and the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost. That statement was highly political,” she added.
Dr. Awusi also challenged the basis of the concerns raised, pointing to conditions in mining communities under previous administrations.
“When Nana Addo was president, if you went to mining communities, the water was very muddy. Was he in Ghana or was he not? Did he see it or not? The water flows well now ever since JM came,” she stated.
She concluded by urging the Pentecost Chairman to focus on his religious duties rather than engage in political commentary.
“We beg him to focus on his priestly work and leave politics for us,” she said.
