News
‘Church must lead crusade to protect environment’
The synod Moderator of the Dayi Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana, Reverend Wisdom Seloame Alorvi, has reminded the church and Ghanaians of their responsibility to protect the environment, which is the creation of God, and not to destroy it.
Reverend Alorvi stated that God created the world and saw all that he created, and said it was very good – Genesis 1:31, and stressed that it was the duty of people who benefited from the creation of God to protect the environment, saying if they could not protect it, they should not destroy it.
The Moderator gave the reminder at a day’s special synod of the Dayi Presbytery of the EP Church Ghana, at Vakpo in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region on the theme: ‘Care for Creation; The Task and Mission of the Church’.
The Synod deliberated on the activities of the church in propagating the gospel to win souls for Christ, and the role of the church in the protection of the environment, which is God’s creation, including our forests, water bodies which are crucial to the survival of the human race.
Additionally, Rev. Alorvi stressed that if God said in His word that everything that he created was very good, then it was the duty of men to take good care of the creation of God, which must be seen in the collective mission and task to care for them and not to destroy them.
He underscored the importance of the church to propagate the gospel alongside educating the people on the need to protect the environment, which was full of God’s creation, saying “any church that did not take good care of God’s creation would be deemed as ignorant of their mission.
Rev. Alorvi observed that Ghanaians belonged to one church or the other, and it is important that the church educate and encourage their members to protect the environment, adding that the inability of the church and Ghanaians to protect the environment would be regarded as negligent of their God-giving task.
Moreover, he said that “if the last tree dies, the last man dies,” highlighting the critical connection between the human race and the ecological world, particularly our forest resources, which underscored the fact that the survival of people was fundamentally linked to the health and well-being of the environment.
Rev. Alorvi also stated that the above phrase raised ethical issues about the responsible use of natural resources and the impact of human activities on the environment, stressing that after all, the very survival as a people largely depended on how the environment was cared for.
The Moderator, therefore, called on Ghanaians to stop the wanton pollution of the environment, plant more trees, dispose of refuse properly, and stop illegal mining popularly called ‘galamsey’ and other human activities that threatened the sustenance of the environment.
From Samuel Agbewode, Vakpo
News
‘Thousands of Ghanaian women suffering from Obstetric Fistula’
Thousands of Ghanaian women continue to suffer in silence from Obstetric Fistula (OF) due to inadequate access to surgical treatment, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed.
Dr Wilfred Ochan, UNFPA’s Country Representative, disclosed that over the past decade, Ghana has accumulated a backlog of more than 12,000 untreated cases, despite recording an estimated 1,300 new cases each year.
He made the remarks during a visit to the New Times Corporation (NTC) in Accra to mark the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (IDEOF).
“Only 1,000 repairs have been done in 10 years. That leaves thousands of women isolated, in pain, and excluded from society due to a condition that is both preventable and treatable,” Dr Ochan said.
He stressed the need for greater investment in surgical capacity, public awareness, and partnership, especially with the private sector— to accelerate Ghana’s efforts to eliminate the condition by 2030.
Obstetric Fistula results from prolonged or obstructed labour without timely medical care, causing a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, leading to continuous leakage of urine or faeces. The consequences include stigma, chronic incontinence, and often, the death of the baby.
To help close the treatment gap, the UNFPA is working with health institutions including the Komfo Anokye and Cape Coast Teaching hospitals to scale up surgeries and outreach.
“We must not allow women to suffer lifelong trauma for simply trying to give life,” Dr Ochan urged.
The Managing Director, Mr Martin Adu-Owusu, pledged NTC’s support in raising public awareness and promoting maternal health initiatives.
“We are ready to collaborate with you to ensure that maternal deaths and issues affecting women come down to the barest minimum so that together we can achieve the UN goal to eliminating Obstetric Fistula by 2030,” he said
By Esinam Jemima Esinam
News
Inflated prices of Abaya, Jalabiya on Eid-al-Adha celebration
Muslims in Ghana and all over the world yesterday observed the Eid-al-Adha celebration.
It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar and is celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan.
The build up to yesterday’s edition was characterised by a high demand for traditional Islamic attire here in Tamale, leading to a sharp rise in prices.
Checks by The Spectator from the various markets in the Tamale area revealed that prices for popular outfits like the Abaya, Jalabiya, and Kaftan have skyrocketed within the period.
Although there is no prescribed outfit for the celebration, many Muslims in Tamale traditionally choose modest and loose-fitting garments that reflect Islamic values.
Abayas and Jalabiyas often imported from Turkey, Dubai, Egypt, and Northern Nigeria have become particularly the most sought-after attires, resulting in the price hikes.
Currently, prices for men’s attire range from GH₵250 to GH₵800 while women’s outfits are selling from GH₵350 to GH₵1000.
Children’s garments are also not left out of the pricing craze. Bargaining for the youngsters starts from GH₵150.
Hajia Naila Abdul Karim, owner of ‘Cover with Style,’ confirmed a significant surge in sales in the holy month.
“Each day, more than 20 people, mostly women walk into the shop. We also send over 40 parcels daily to customers across the country,” she stated.
She attributed the price increases to the cedi’s depreciation and a recent shortage of Turkish imports, noting that most of her stock now comes from Dubai.
Hamdia Kamil, a loyal customer, shared her experience: “Two years ago, I bought an Abaya for GH₵350. This year, it’s GH₵650. I had no choice because it’s a special occasion and I want to feel good. Still, I hope the dresses are made affordable so others can also celebrate in style.”
At Baby Last Closet in Sakasaka, another fashion outlet, prices for women’s outfits range from GH₵350 to GH₵1,300, while men’s attire goes from GH₵250 to GH₵1,000.
“Some customers complain about the cost, but because it’s Ramadan, many still go ahead and buy,” said the shop owner.
Similarly, Mandy’s Haven at Zogbeli sells exclusively for Eid celebrations, dealing in high-end Abayas, Jalabiyas, and Kaftan materials. Prices there reflect quality and origin, with female attire ranging from GH₵450 to GH₵5,000, and kaftan fabric sold at GH₵200 per yard.
For many, including resident Iddrisu Suale, the holy month remains a sacred period despite the economic pressures. “Things are expensive this year, but I still want to make the day special for my children. I plan to get them Abayas and Jalabiyas from Egypt,” he indicated.
Despite the bustling nature of preparation and the high cost of goods, resident expressed optimism of having a good time in observing the deep spiritual significance of the occasion.
Story & photos by Paul Dery
