News
‘Combine science, religion to protect environment’
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Prof-Debrah-500x600.jpg&description=‘Combine science, religion to protect environment’', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Prof-Debrah-500x600.jpg&description=‘Combine science, religion to protect environment’', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Many people have heard or even repeated the popular claim that because God gave mankind dominion over the earth, humans are free to consume anything they find in nature.
However, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Professor Edward Wiafe Debrah, says this widely held belief was a misconception that has contributed to the destruction of the environment and the depletion of natural resources.
Speaking on the relationship between religion, science and environmental conservation, Prof. Debrah explained to The Spectator in an exclusive interview that many Christians often cited Genesis 1:28, where God blessed humanity and instructed them to “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and every living thing that moves on the earth.”
According to him, the verse had been wrongly interpreted to mean that people have unrestricted permission to consume every animal and natural resource on earth.
”The Bible did not ask mankind to destroy or exhaust creation. Dominion is about responsible leadership and stewardship, not exploitation,” he stressed.
He said God entrusted creation to humanity with the expectation that it would be managed wisely and preserved for future generations.
”Stewardship means nurturing what has been entrusted to you and being accountable to the Master one day. We must, therefore, use our natural resources wisely rather than consume everything without replacement,” he said.
Prof. Debrah pointed out that another misconception among some Christians was the belief that since the Bible spoke about the end of the world, there was little need to conserve the environment because no one knows when the earth would end.
He described this thinking as dangerous, explaining that no one knows when the end would come and, therefore, humanity had a responsibility to care for creation while it existed.
He also challenged the belief that animals cannot become extinct simply because human beings continue to exist despite people dying every day.
Drawing a distinction between human populations and wildlife, he explained that many animal species could disappear permanently if they were harvested without limits or conservation measures.
He cited indiscriminate hunting as an example, saying many hunters entered forests and killed whatever animals they found without considering whether the populations were sufficient to sustain future generations.
”If we continue consuming resources without strategic plans for replacement and conservation, we will eventually lose them,” he cautioned.
Prof. Debrah urged society to combine scientific knowledge with religious and cultural beliefs instead of relying solely on religious interpretations to address environmental challenges.
”We have to read and understand the Bible well while applying science to our culture and religion. Religious beliefs alone cannot solve all our environmental problems,” he stated.
He emphasised that biodiversity remained essential to human survival, noting that healthy ecosystems improve food quality, reduce diseases and help clean the air through trees that absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.
Touching on agriculture, Prof. Debrah encouraged farmers to adopt sustainable farming practices that protect beneficial insects, especially bees, which naturally pollinate crops.
He mentioned that attempts at artificial pollination have proved costly, making natural pollination by insects a more practical and sustainable option.
”The irony is that we spray insecticides to kill every insect on our farms, including those that are beneficial. If we reduce indiscriminate use of insecticides, nature will regulate itself through the food chain, ensuring healthy ecosystems and improved crop production,” he said.
Prof. Debrah, therefore, appealed to the public to recognise that caring for nature was not contrary to faith but rather an important responsibility entrusted to humanity.
”The earth and its resources are gifts from God. Our responsibility is not to exhaust them but to protect and manage them wisely for ourselves and generations yet unborn,” he added.
By Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
