Students and other participants at an Ecological Integrity Workshop held at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Head Office have been challenged to become ambassadors for environmental protection and to support national efforts to reduce plastic pollution.
Speaking at the event, the Manager of Maintenance and Sustainable Africa, Mr. Emmanuel Turkson, emphasised that caring for the environment is a Christian responsibility rooted in God’s command to humanity to steward creation. Drawing from Scripture, he explained that God created the world, declared it good, and entrusted it to humanity to nurture and protect.
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,” he said, quoting Psalm 24. “God loved His creation and gave human beings the responsibility to take care of it. When we destroy the environment, we are failing in that responsibility.”
Mr. Turkson noted that environmental degradation—including pollution, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change—reflects humanity’s failure to properly steward God’s creation. He added that creation itself serves as a witness to God’s power and glory.
“Many people come to appreciate the greatness of God through the beauty of creation. When we pollute and destroy the environment, we make it harder for people to see the glory of God through what He has made,” he said.
Plastic Pollution Crisis
The environmental advocate highlighted the alarming scale of plastic pollution globally and in Ghana. According to him, approximately 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide every year, yet only a small proportion is recycled. Millions of tonnes enter the oceans annually, causing severe harm to marine life and ecosystems.
In Ghana, he said, between 840,000 and 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated each year, with only a fraction recovered for recycling. Improperly disposed plastic often ends up in drains, rivers, beaches, and oceans, threatening fish, sea turtles, and other marine organisms.
“Plastic waste is not just an environmental problem; it is also a spiritual issue because we are destroying what God created and entrusted to us,” he stated.
PCG’s Growing Commitment
Mr. Turkson praised the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for its growing commitment to environmental stewardship, citing awareness creation, community engagement, beach clean‑ups, advocacy campaigns, and plastic recovery initiatives. He recalled that Church leaders have intensified discussions in recent years on how PCG can contribute meaningfully to addressing environmental challenges.
He explained that the Church’s plastic recovery programme began around 2017 with a single collection receptacle at Emmanuel Congregation, Madina. Today, more than 30 congregations and institutions participate in the initiative.
He encouraged students and church members to separate plastic waste at home and support recycling efforts by depositing sachet water wrappers and plastic bottles at designated collection points.
“Plastic is not waste; it is a resource. What many people throw away has economic value and can be transformed into useful products,” he said.
According to him, the programme has recovered over 60,000 kilograms of plastic waste this year alone through participating churches and individuals.
Call for Collective Action
Mr. Turkson urged churches, schools, and communities to form environmental teams to oversee recycling activities, educate the public, and promote responsible waste management practices. He challenged Christians to demonstrate their faith through practical environmental action.
“If there is a church in a community, the area around it should reflect the light of Christ. There should not be heaps of plastic waste and illegal refuse dumps around churches. We must let our light shine through our actions,” he said.
He encouraged participants to start small, remain committed despite challenges, and work together to build cleaner communities and protect God’s creation for future generations.
The programme ended with a call on students to become environmental ambassadors, spreading awareness about responsible waste management in their homes, schools, churches, and communities.
By: Elizabeth Boafo-Mensah, Christian Messenger
