Editorial
Society must protect the environment
Every Ghanaian should be responsible for protecting the environment, but many argue that since God gave humankind dominion over the earth, they are allowed to eat anything they discover in nature.
They have misconstrued biblical passages to support unrestrained resource consumption and environmental deterioration.
But according to conservation biologist Professor Edward Wiafe Debrah, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), this popular notion is false and has contributed to environmental degradation and resource depletion.
Many Christians frequently cited Genesis 1:28, which states that God blessed humanity and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply. He says that this verse has been incorrectly misinterpreted to mean that people have unrestricted permission to consume every animal and natural resource on earth, so his call for responsible stewardship is appropriate.
The Spectator agrees with him that since dominion is about responsible leadership and stewardship rather than exploitation, the Bible did not call on humans to destroy or exhaust creation.
Land degradation, such as illegal mining, which is sometimes referred to as “galamsey,” has its own consequences. Ghanaians should remember that religion, science, and environmental conservation are closely related, so destroying the environment will ultimately cause them great suffering.
Therefore, it will be better for us and future generations if we protect the environment and natural resources instead of consuming everything without replenishment.
Once more, it is similarly risky to believe that since no one can predict the end of the world, there is no need to protect the environment. However, humanity still has an obligation to take care of creation while it still exists.
In actuality, animals will eventually go extinct due to indiscriminate hunting, ongoing resource use, and a lack of strategic measures for conservation and replacement.
We join Prof. Debrah in urging society to handle environmental issues by integrating scientific knowledge with cultural and religious beliefs rather than depending just on religious interpretations.
It is important for society to understand that healthy ecosystems enhance food quality, lower disease rates, and help purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and other dangerous gasses through plants.
As a result, farmers must implement sustainable farming methods that safeguard important insects, including bees, which naturally pollinate crops.
We should be aware that the earth and its resources are gifts from God, thus it is our duty to preserve and responsibly manage them for future generations as well as for ourselves.
Society has to understand that protecting the environment is not at odds with religion but rather a crucial duty bequeathed to humanity.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to draw the attention of the authorities to the deplorable state of the road at Bortianor Hills in the Ga South Municipality, and the serious effect it is having on our environment and our health.
The road has been in a terrible condition for years. It is full of deep potholes, gullies and loose stones. When it rains, the entire stretch becomes muddy, flooded and completely impassable. Cars get stuck, school children wade through dirty water to get to school, and pregnant women and the sick struggle to get to hospital.
When it is dry, the situation is even worse. The dust is unbearable. It covers our homes, our food, our clothes and our shops. We breathe this dust every day. Many residents, especially children and the elderly, are now suffering from cough, catarrh, asthma and eye infections.
What pains us most is that some time ago, a contractor came and applied only the first coat on portions of the road and then left. Since then, there has been no improvement. That first coat has already been washed away by the rains. In fact, the road is now worse than it was before, because the loose gravel and the broken edges have created more dust and more erosion.
The environment is suffering too. Because of the bad road, tanker trucks and heavy vehicles that bring us water and building materials have further destroyed what is left of it. The drains are choked, rainwater has no proper channel, and erosion is eating into people’s plots and foundations. The dust and noise have killed the peace of this once quiet community.
Bortianor Hills is a fast-growing community. People are building, paying taxes, paying property rates and contributing to national development. We do not deserve to live in this condition.
We are therefore appealing to the Ga South Municipal Assembly, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to come back and complete the road. If a contract was awarded, let it be enforced. If the contractor has abandoned site, let a new one be engaged. Silence is not acceptable.
Good roads are not a luxury. They are life, health and dignity.
Resident,
A significant shift in Ghana’s diaspora policy is highlighted by the first Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues, which move the emphasis from transient heritage tourism, such as the 2019 Year of Return, to a planned, 10-year framework for long-term repatriation and economic integration.
Although the project highlights the African diaspora’s enormous developmental potential, the conversations reveal a persistent conflict between high-level political goodwill and the practical, bureaucratic reality that returnees must deal with.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs correctly notes that the diaspora is more than just seasonal tourists; it is an important source of investment, innovation, and talent transfer.
According to Dr. Collins Rawlings Nyunyonyame, institutional fragmentation rather than a lack of motivation is the main obstacle to sustainable return. Long-term settlement is deliberately discouraged when potential returns confront unclear bureaucratic procedures across many agencies, such as immigration, foreign affairs, and diaspora affairs.
A crucial operational step is the demand for a centralised platform for diaspora opportunities and efficient collaboration. Grand policies run the risk of failing at the implementation phase if there are no clear, uniform processes for citizenship, business registration, and property acquisition.
Ghana can increase local industries, close skills gaps in specialised fields, and attract foreign direct investment by drawing in wealthy or highly qualified diasporans. The state must, however, strike a balance between these incentives to avoid unintentionally marginalising locals, especially in highly competitive industries like urban real estate.
In order to feel like they belong and have the chance to “Build Home,” returnees need civic security and legal clarity. Practical deterrents include things like complicated land tenure regimes, friction between dual citizenship, and expensive import charges on personal belongings.
The shift from a “Year of Return” to a “Decade of Repatriation” necessitates extensive integration at the community level. For repatriation to be successful, everyday economic and social partnerships between returnees and local communities must take precedence over scholarly and ministerial discussions.
The Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues accurately point out that emotional appeal is insufficient for the next stage of diaspora engagement. Ghana’s policy needs to change from cultural welcoming to a highly organised, seamless institutional ecosystem if the concept “Come Home. Stay Home. Build Home.” is to become a reality.
