A National Creation Care Framework has been introduced to assist churches in Ghana in promoting environmental and climate sustainability.
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This framework aims to empower religious leaders to encourage environmental stewardship and climate action among Christians.
It serves as a guide for incorporating environmental responsibility into ministry practices and improving awareness of effective environmental strategies.
Ghana is currently grappling with significant environmental issues, such as deforestation, erratic rainfall, droughts, and frequent flooding, all of which are associated with climate change.
These challenges are adversely affecting agriculture, water supply, and public health, particularly impacting rural and impoverished communities.
Children in these regions are particularly at risk, facing heightened food insecurity, limited access to clean water, and an increased likelihood of diseases such as malaria and diarrhea.
Climate-related disasters also harm infrastructure, destabilize economies, and disrupt education, pushing children into dangerous situations like child labor and early marriage.
To tackle these problems, World Vision Ghana has initiated a collaborative effort to empower the Church to advocate for sustainable environmental practices based on biblical teachings.
Building on the Empowered World View model, they held the First National Creation Care Conference at the World Vision Ghana Conference Hall on July 9, in partnership with key stakeholders.
This initiative resulted in a national action plan and the establishment of a Creation Care Framework to guide churches in their environmental responsibilities.
After two years of consultations, technical contributions, and funding support from World Vision Ghana, the National Creation Care Framework was finalized.
A three-day Creation Care Conference was conducted to officially launch the framework and train church and faith-based leaders on its implementation.
This conference, held in collaboration with important organizations and funded by World Vision, A Rocha Ghana, Akrofi-Christaller Institute, and the Church of Pentecost, led to the formulation of a national action plan and a vision for the Creation Care Framework for churches.
During the conference, Benjamin Sarbah, Faith and Development Manager for World Vision Ghana, elaborated on the biblical principles underpinning creation care.
He emphasized that the framework will be an essential resource for enhancing the capacity of religious leaders in climate sustainability training.
Daryl Bonsu, Deputy Director of A Rocha Ghana, highlighted the significance of engaging Christians in environmental sustainability efforts.
“We want the church to have a more prominent voice in addressing environmental issues with the government, which is why it is crucial for leaders to comprehend sustainable climate challenges,” he stated.
Ebenezer Blasu, Director of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute, discussed their role in advocating for and educating faith-based environmental initiatives.
Source: Bugbila Moadow.
