A Religious Response to Environmental Flippancies in Akan Communities in Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACT Environmental destruction in Ghana appeared to be the hottest of the political issues in the run-up to the 2024 General Elections. The study sought to unravel the possible factors militating against Ghana’s efforts in the fight against environmental destruction. It also postulates certain intentional and coordinated activities that the religious bodies in Ghana can undertake in contributing to salvaging the ecological crisis. Using the qualitative method, and a purposive sampling technique, some players in the environmental economy such as individuals, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and government officials were interviewed. In addition, for first hand information, efforts were made to visit some Akan communities to observe how the people behave toward their environment. This paper argues that the ecological narrative in Akan communities has changed chiefly because of social conflicts, engineered by factors such as the basic needs of humans, politicization, desacralization, materialism, economics, “development,” culture, chieftaincy, international relations, tenancy, religion, civil action and many more. However, Akan religious people to whom this paper has pointed fingers as part of the problem, have what it takes to contribute to salvaging the environmental crisis in Ghana. The paper recommends that religious bodies engage in the intensification of ecological conversation and building ecological congregations by employing eco-pedagogy and making investments in environmental protection ventures in Ghana.