Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has rallied the clergy to use the pulpit to shine a spotlight on issues relating to the environment to arouse public consciousness of the dire consequences of the destructive activities of illegal miners and loggers.
He said the church could not remain indifferent to the massive degradation of the natural vegetation and pollution of water bodies.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said this in a speech read for him at the 56th synod of the Kumasi Diocesan Methodist Church.
The King expressed deep worry over the complete disregard for laws and regulations enacted to protect and promote sustainable management of the environment.
He said he had no doubt that the church, given its enormous influence with the people, had vital contribution to make to the fight to stop the indiscipline and recklessness.
The three-day conference was held under the theme “Making disciples of all nations – the Wesleyan tradition for church growth”.
It provided the platform for the leaders to discuss ways of growing the church.
Methodism was introduced in the Kumasi metropolis between 1841 and 1842 through the instrumentality of Thomas Birch Freeman, a missionary born to an African father and an English mother.
It has since made significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the people – building schools, hospitals and providing social amenities.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said the church’s relevance to the progress of the society could not be underestimated and encouraged it to focus on fighting poverty and other human indignities.
The Right Reverend Christopher Nyarko Andam, the Diocesan Bishop, urged the government to be bold to fight corruption.
He asked that public officials caught in corrupt practices should be made to face punitive sanctions.
The Methodist Bishop called for Ghanaians to adopt non-partisan approach to national development issues, saying, all should accept to contribute their quota to make the nation a better place for everybody.
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