The Youth Desk Programme Officer of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) has underscored the need for religious organisations to lead a vigorous advocacy campaign against the rising incidence of environmental devastation in the country.

“True dominion as intended by God, calls for His stewards to lead the way that would promote good life, health, and sustainability, taking cognizance of the fact the environmental crisis confronting us today as Ghanaians is not limited to ecological issues but requires divine intervention” he emphasised.

Rev. Paemka was speaking at the official opening of the EPCG Men’s Fellowship 27th Annual National Delegates Conference held at Avatime Vane in the Ho-West District of the Volta Region.

The three-day session with the theme, "Care for God`s Creation, the Mission of the Church and the Role of Men” brought together delegates from all the 16 EPCG presbyteries in Ghana as well as other partner churches and Christian faith institutions in Ghana.

Rev. Courage Paemka expressed regret about the wanton defiance of laws by perpetrators involved in the depletion of natural resources including water bodies and forest reserves, cautioning, that the repercussions of these irresponsible acts are dire.

He urged Ghanaians not to misunderstand the concept of ‘dominion’ as reckless exploitation of the Earth’s flora, quoting the Book of Isaiah 24: 5, “The earth is defiled by its people, they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant”.

Rev. Paemka entreated the EPCG Men’s Fellowship to affirm their allegiance to the conference theme by demonstrating passionate commitment towards championing the implementation of the Church’s environment policies in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives, agriculture, and mentorship.

The President of EPCG Men’s Fellowship, Mr. Foster Agotse disclosed that the Fellowship initiated a project of planting more than 25,000 trees including coconut and other economic trees in all presbyteries across the country.

He explained that the initiative was aimed at contributing to climate change mitigation interventions and to serve as a venture for income generation.

Mr. Agotse implored participants to be proactive in evaluating the Fellowship’s action plan and formulate new strategies during the conference session discussions.