Religious leaders have admitted that faith communities cannot distance themselves from Ghana’s sanitation crisis, insisting that churches and mosques must play a leading role in changing attitudes that continue to fuel flooding across the country.
Speaking on Good Afternoon Ghana on Metro TV on Thursday, July 9, Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations Coordinator at the Christian Council, Rev. Jehoiada Godwin Amuzu, said Christians must accept their share of the responsibility because they make up the majority of the country’s population.
“We acknowledge the majority status of the Christian population and so if we have indiscriminate disposal of waste or many forms of environmental degradation, we cannot be left of blame. We also accept blame. We are part of the majority, so our people are also to blame,” he said.
His comments come in the wake of the devastating June 29 floods, which left several communities inundated after heavy rains and choked drains caused widespread flooding in parts of Accra.
Rev. Amuzu argued that cleaning drains alone would not solve the problem unless people’s attitudes changed.
“If we clean up the environment and the mindset does not change, it will not be long before the environment will be polluted again,” he said.
He added that churches would intensify public education alongside cleanup exercises.
“We want to do the two side by side. Whilst we clean the mess that has been already caused, we believe that massive education that will trigger some mindset change will lead to a lasting solution to this environmental menace.”
According to him, the Christian Council intends to use its nationwide network of churches, pastors and schools to reinforce the message.
“If we cannot be pious on Sunday, then from Monday to Saturday, we destroy the environment God gave us to take care of,” Rev. Amuzu said. “What is the purpose of the gospel if it will lead to the destruction of lives and not saving lives?”
He disclosed that environmental care has already become part of the Christian Council’s activities after a programme on cleanliness was launched in April. He also revealed that the Council would discuss the issue with the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council at an upcoming joint meeting.
Beyond sermons, he said churches would also rely on schools and social media to spread the message.
“We are using the schools as well to educate the general public that once we are obviously part of the problem, we have to be part of the solution.”
Joining the discussion, Muslim cleric and spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, also called for greater personal responsibility, saying the recent floods exposed both citizen negligence and weak enforcement of sanitation laws.
He first extended condolences to families affected by the disaster.
“My heart goes to all of them and pray that this disaster never happens again,” he said.
The imam argued that the tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for both authorities and the public.
“It shows that there is a certain neglect of responsibility on us as citizens and then also an act of irresponsibility and our inability to enforce laws that are intended to ensure that our gutters are not choked,” he said.
He added that while many people understand the dangers of indiscriminate waste disposal, their actions often contradict that knowledge.
“I think we will not be honest to ourselves if we say that we are unaware of the effects of indiscriminate and irresponsible disposal of our refuse. We are only being irresponsible.”
Sheikh Shaibu said Islam places great importance on environmental cleanliness, noting that the religion even prohibits actions that could pollute water sources and endanger others.
“Our religion itself teaches us to keep our environment clean,” he said, explaining that removing harmful objects from public roads is regarded as an act of charity.
He, however, said there remains a disconnect between religious teachings and everyday behaviour.
“There is a gap between what we are taught and what we believe in, and life,” he said. “We need to do a kind of education where there is a meeting point between what we believe in and the sort of life that we lead.”
According to him, lasting change will only come when people begin to practise the values their faiths teach, not only during worship but in their daily interactions with the environment.
“A lot of education needs to be done,” Sheikh Shaibu said.
