The Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, is courting the support of the church in the protection of the forest.

He believes the fight against illegal mining can be won when the church speaks out against negative practices that harm the environment and advocates for sustainable management of natural resources.

“The forestry profession was the first job that was created on this earth because God created the earth and handed it over to man and asked us to be stewards-very stewards of these resources.”

The Forestry Commission is entrusted with and manages forest reserves and wildlife parks.

Valerie Fumey Nassah, Director of Operations at Forestry Commission deputised for Dr. Hugh Brown

This represents about 15 percent of Ghana’s land area of 238,540 square kilometers.

Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Dr. Hugh Brown, says managing Ghana's forest resources requires concerted efforts.

“As Christians once again, we are supposed to be the stewards of our resources because one day at the end of the day we are going to account for how we managed these resources. “

He says it is only when stakeholders, especially the church, which has divine responsibility to be faithful stewards of God's creation, play their roles well in support of efforts by the Forestry Commission that optimal results will be achieved.

“As you know, we have been overwhelmed by illegal activities; illegal farming, illegal felling of trees and illegal mining. And we have spoken and told the whole country that we cannot do it alone. We need support of every stakeholder in this country and for the church, because we are supposed to be good stewards, we are supposed to reach out to the Forestry Commission and like we did during the “Tree for Life Restoration” initiative, the churches supported us and planted trees across the country," he added.

"We are asking all churches to continue to support the commission in that wise. Secondly, when we see illegal activities going on in our community, we should report them.” Dr. Brown appealed.

Dr. Brown made the admonition in a speech read for him by the Director of Operations at the Commission, Valerie Fumey Nassah, at the ongoing annual camp meeting of the Krapa District of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

A section of congregants at the Camp Meeting

He commended the Seventh-Day Adventist Church for leading the way in landscape restoration initiatives through the government's flagship "Green Ghana" and the "Tree for Life" projects.

The Commission wants the church to create alternative livelihoods for their teeming youth to discourage their interests in galamsey.

“The Chief Executive and the entire staff of the commission have done a lot but it’s not easy. We need the entire country to be onboard. Unemployment is one of the major issues so we are asking the church if they create employment opportunities for the youth in the church so they can be distracted from these areas because if they don’t have anything to do, they are tempted to do although they are illegal.” 

Meanwhile, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has assured the government of its support in the fight to protect the environment, especially water bodies.

The church, through its "Save Our Waters" project, has been encouraging and leading members to embark on cleanup exercises along water bodies while discouraging members from partaking in activities that destroy the environment.

Here is Pastor Stephen Darko, head of the Krapa District of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

“The church recently launched “Save our Water Bodies” and therefore I wish to say the church is much into what she just said. “

“For us as a church, and as stewards, we always give our members the opportunity to also excel. We have things (programs) that bring out our youth so they can be self-sufficient and self employed.”

The theme for this year's camp meeting is "Called to be Faithful: Commandments of God and Faith in Jesus."