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‘Combine science, religion to protect environment’
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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
Private Legal Practitioner and New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Charles Owusu Juanah says Awentami Paul Afoko has already started engaging members of opposing camps within the party as part of efforts to build a united front ahead of the 2028 elections.
Lawyer Juanah, who is the National Chairman of Friends of Bawumia, said some NPP members who have lost key positions have become disgruntled and now behave as though the party belongs to them.
He said this attitude has contributed to the divisions within the party and created the need for a leadership figure capable of bringing the various groups back together.
Juanah believes Afoko has the personality and relationships necessary to undertake that reconciliation.
He revealed that the former chairman has already started reaching out to people from opposing camps.
“He has even begun interacting with opposing camps in order to form a united front ahead of the 2028 elections,” Juanah said.
According to him, Afoko’s engagement with rival groups shows his focus is on building the party rather than deepening existing divisions.
Juanah said the former chairman understands that the NPP cannot successfully prepare for the next election while its members remain divided.
“He has foresight, the vision, and strategy to ensure there’s a united front,” he said.
Juanah added that Afoko had already begun talks with some members as part of the process.
He said these engagements demonstrate a willingness to listen to different sides and create a platform where members who have fallen out with one another can work together.
“He has even begun talks with some members,” Juanah said.
He argued that Afoko’s approach also shows his understanding of leadership.
According to Juanah, leadership in the current circumstances requires someone who can speak to different factions without treating political disagreements as permanent divisions.
He said Afoko’s charisma allows him to engage people who may not belong to the same camp.
Juanah therefore believes the former chairman can help bring back members who feel alienated from the party.
“If there’s anyone who can ensure all disgruntled members come together, then it’s no other than Paul Afoko,” he said.
For Juanah, the reconciliation effort is important because the NPP will need a united internal structure before it can effectively organise for the 2028 election. He said Afoko’s current engagement with rival camps is therefore consistent with the former chairman’s broader “Reunite, Rebuild, and Recapture” message.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana is set to take centre stage in fashion, culture and the creative economy as the maiden Black Star Fashion Week (BSFW) takes off with a two-day national fashion experience designed to discover talent, convene the industry and showcase Ghanaian fashion on a global stage.
Put together by the Presidency-backed Black Star Experience Secretariat led by Rex Owusu Marfo, with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and its agencies such as the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Creative Arts Agency, it is structured across two connected experiences in Accra and Senchi.
The Black Star Fashion Week will move from inteligent industry dialogue and talent discovery to an exciting fashion celebration.
The first day will take place in Accra on November 4 and will centre on the Black Star Fashion Summit.
The Summit will bring together designers, fashion entrepreneurs, creatives, industry leaders, investors, buyers, manufacturers, policymakers, media and other stakeholders for a day of conversations, knowledge exchange, networking and talent development.
The Accra experience will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside conversations, masterclasses, industry presentations and practical workshops covering areas relevant to the growth of Ghana’s fashion industry, including entrepreneurship, branding, digital marketing, textile innovation, manufacturing, fashion finance, export readiness, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, sustainability and intellectual property.
A major component of Day One will be the 16-Region Designer Programme, bringing emerging fashion talent from across the country into one national platform.
Each participating designer will present a creative interpretation of their region, reflecting its identity, culture, heritage, materials, craftsmanship and contemporary design language.
The Accra programme will culminate in the selection of five designers. Out of the five, one will advance to the flagship fashion show at Senchi.
The second day will move to Royal Senchi on November 7, where the Black Star Fashion Show and experience will take place.
Beyond the runway, Senchi will host a Fashion Village, bringing together designer showcases, retail, textiles, artisan experiences, brand activations, beauty, technology, food and beverage, tourism and lifestyle experiences.
The event will also celebrate Ghana’s cultural diversity through music, dance, textiles, craft, food, storytelling, heritage and visual arts, demonstrating the deep connection between fashion and Ghana’s wider cultural ecosystem.
Honours will go out to outstanding contributors to Ghana’s fashion ecosystem, while networking and business engagements will connect designers and creative businesses with buyers, investors, manufacturers, retailers and other industry stakeholders.
Black Star Experience (BSE) is a Government of Ghana inititive for Culture, Arts, Tourism and Creative engagement.
As a national, year-round platform, the Black Star Experience brings together Ghana’s cultural, artistic, tourism and creative offerings to strengthen Ghana’s identity, promote the country as a preferred global destination and position Ghana as a leading cultural and creative capital of Africa.
