By Lawrence Kumah
The Apostolic Church Ghana has inaugurated its newly created Kumasi North Area in a grand and colourful ceremony held in Kumasi, with a strong call for an end to illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The inauguration followed the merger of two existing administrative areas of the church, Oforikrom Area and Ashtown Area, which have now been consolidated to form the Kumasi North Area as part of the church’s structural reorganisation and growth strategy.
The historic ceremony attracted a host of distinguished personalities, including traditional leaders and a representative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Church members from across the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country thronged the venue to witness the occasion and to offer thanksgiving and praise to God.
Speaking to the media after the event, the Vice President of The Apostolic Church Ghana and the Diaspora, Apostle Christopher Afum Nyarko, reaffirmed the church’s commitment to spreading the gospel worldwide, beginning from Ghana, which he described as the church’s “Jerusalem.”
According to Apostle Nyarko, the church’s mission goes beyond expansion for its own sake. “We are strategically entering virgin communities where the presence of the church is not yet felt, while at the same time strengthening weaker assemblies to ensure balanced growth,” he explained.
He further stressed the need for improved discipleship within the church, anchored on its guiding motto, “Rebearing Fruit.” This, he said, remains a major objective of the church as it seeks to deepen spiritual maturity among members and win more souls for Christ.
Beyond spiritual matters, Apostle Nyarko used the platform to address national issues, particularly the menace of illegal mining. He described galamsey as an “albatross around the neck of the nation” that has caused widespread destruction to the environment and posed serious threats to human life.
He urged the government to marshal all forces in the fight against illegal mining, warning that the menace has become a major enemy of the state. “Galamsey is destroying our rivers, our lands, and the very foundations of our future,” he said.
Apostle Nyarko was emphatic that the fight against illegal mining must be depoliticised if Ghana is to succeed. He called for collective national action, noting that only a united, non-partisan approach would ensure lasting victory over the problem.
The inauguration of the Kumasi North Area, he concluded, marks a new chapter in the growth of The Apostolic Church Ghana, combining spiritual renewal with a renewed commitment to national development and moral responsibility.
