Ghanaians have been advised to consider the environment as a gift from God and initiate positive measures to protect it from degradation. They were also reminded that improper disposal of waste, indiscriminate felling of trees, farming along water bodies, building in waterways and the use of harmful chemicals in fishing among other negative human practices endangered nature. Reverend Father Boakye-Danquah, Rector of the Catholic University College of the Spiritan Institute of Philosophy at Ejisu in the Ejsu-Juaben District of the Ashanti Region, gave the advise in his New Year message delivered at the Saint Mary's Catholic Church at Besease on Monday. He noted that some species of plants, animals, birds, insects and aquatic creatures that helped in maintaining the ecosystem had become extinct partly because of bad human practices. Rev. Father Boakye-Danquah said negative human activities could change the pattern of the climate and affect water bodies. He said these could further result in water shortage by the year 2020 and urged Christians to join the campaign against environmental destruction. Rev. Father Boakye-Danquah appealed to forest guards and personnel of other law enforcement agencies to protect the forest against negative human activities. In a related development, the Very Reverend Father Paul Baffour Awuah, Cathedral Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Konongo-Mampong, cautioned Ghanaians against voting along ethnic considerations in the 2008 Election, saying it could lead to conflicts and derail national developmental efforts. The Cathedral Administrator, who was delivering a New Year message at Saint Paul's Catholic Cathedral at Mampong in the region on Monday, urged Christians to pray for free and fair elections. Rev Father Awuah asked the youth not to allow politicians to influence them with money for votes since that could mar the beauty of democracy. He appealed to Ghanaians to unite and focus on the good things that God has installed for them in the years ahead. Rev Father Awuah called on Christians to live in peace and harmony with their neighbours in order to win more souls for the Church. Source: GNA