DEVELOP POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ENVIRONMENT (PAGE 20)

THE Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Rev Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has called on Ghanaians to develop a positive attitude towards their environment as their contribution to preserving the country’s natural resources.
“As stewards of the natural environment, we are called to preserve and restore the air, water and the land, which are gifts from God and on which our lives depend,” he said.
At the ordination of 20 ministerial probationers of the church at Kyebi, Rt Rev Frimpong-Manso said “stewardship has to do with how we bring all of our resources at our disposal into efficient use in our participation in the saving of God’s creation”.
“We must clean up and prevent air pollution, which threatens the health of our families and the survival of all life on the planet. We must give special attention to the long-term effects of air pollution, such as the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming and acid rain,” Rt Rev Frimpong-Manso stated.
The ordinands, who had completed a two-year probation, were from the Akuapem, Akyem, Kwahu and the West Akyem presbyteries.
The moderator said as a result of the people’s poor attitudes towards their environment, the country had been engulfed by filth and stench emanating from choked gutters, heaps of garbage, polluted water bodies, unplanned structures and smoke-filled air.
“It is no wonder the substantial increase in the death rate in our country now could be traced to the deterioration of our natural environment,” he stated, adding that “we are enemies of our own health problems”.
To ensure a clean and safe environment for the present and future generations, Rt Rev Frimpong-Manso urged Ghanaians to endeavour to make cleanliness a functionary activity in their lives.
That, he noted, could help curb the frequent outbreak of diseases and the rampant destruction of the country’s scarce resources, including the forest water bodies and the vast arable lands.
“We need to develop and support measures such as recycling of solid waste materials, avoid littering our streets and polluting our water bodies,” he said, noting that such measures would lead to a more careful and hygienic life among the people.
Dwelling on the upcoming general election, Rt Rev Frimpong-Manso advised Ghanaians not to allow themselves to be influenced by politicians for their parochial interests.
“We must be discerning to elect a party and political leaders who only have our interests and well-being at heart and are prepared to pursue them at all cost,” he added.
The moderator further entreated the people to respect and tolerate each other’s political views to ensure fair and peaceful election.
Admonishing the ordinands, he advised them to proclaim the gospel fearlessly and without favour, adding that “you must also strive to show humility and live above reproach to win souls for Christ”.