The Knights of Marshall, a prominent Catholic organisation, has called for collective action against the devastating state of the country’s environment.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its Standing Committee meeting in Sekondi, the group decried the rampant destruction of forests, pollution of rivers, and existential threats to life, citing the loss of natural resources, including forests, wildlife, and biodiversity, over the last 30 years.
The communiqué, signed by the Supreme Knight, Sir Richard Ayih-Akakpo, identified key concerns such as deforestation, water pollution, indiscriminate mining, and climate change, which imperil human health, aquatic life, and the global water supply.
“The rampant destruction of forests, pollution of rivers, and existential threats to life demand immediate attention and our collective action,” it stressed.
The organisation called for sustainable practices, conservation efforts, community engagement, policy reforms, and global cooperation to address these environmental challenges.
The Marshallans stressed the need for individual and collective action to adopt eco-friendly policies, reduce carbon footprints, and promote renewable energy.
The communiqué noted with a sense of urgency, stating, “Nature does not forgive and will surely avenge any mistreatment of it.”
The Knights of Marshall echoed Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si, emphasising that humans have the capacity to reverse the damage caused to the environment.
“Together, we can preserve the natural resources for future generations; ensure a healthy, thriving planet; and protect the inherent right to a safe and sustainable environment,” the communiqué called.
The group pointed out that the projections are that the world will spend four times the resources required to address the same problems if action is not taken now.
“Our call to ‘act now’ is both logical and practical! Everyone can do something from the home, school, work place, and above all, our own inner conversion,” the communiqué said.
“Develop a spirituality that recognises the theology, ethics, and faith practices that integrate ecology and environment! It is time now, for instance, that Christians began to recognise human sins against the environment as having the same gravity as sins against other humans,” the Knights asserted.
By Ernest Kofi Adu