The Goaso Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana has inaugurated its maiden Thomas Wallace Koomson Memorial Lecture with a powerful appeal for a national transformation mindset.

It argued that Ghana’s development future will depend on a renewed culture of responsibility, patriotism and ethical citizenship.

The lecture, held as part of the Diocese’s 10th anniversary celebration, honoured the late Most Rev Thomas Wallace Koomson, Goaso’s first Methodist minister and the Church’s second Presiding Bishop, whose legacy of integrity, discipline and devotion to public service continues to shape the moral character of the Christian community.

Keynote speaker Rt Rev Prof Joseph M.Y. Edusa-Eyison, a lecturer at the Trinity Theological Seminary, described Bishop Koomson as a symbol of truthfulness, commitment and patriotic duty, virtues he said are urgently needed as Ghana confronts challenges ranging from corruption to environmental degradation.

He argued that meaningful national development cannot be achieved through government initiatives alone, but through a citizenry that treats civic duty as a sacred responsibility.

Prof Edusa-Eyison urged Ghanaians to demonstrate loyalty to the nation through transformative actions, including reporting to work on time, honouring tax commitments, defending Ghana’s reputation abroad, and resisting corruption at all levels of society.

“No country develops beyond the character of its citizens,” he stated.

Addressing environmental destruction, especially the escalating threat of illegal mining, the speaker warned that the nation’s forests, rivers, and farmlands are under siege from what he described as “nation wreckers.”

He called on chiefs, youth groups, and Assembly members to form community watchdog teams to protect local ecosystems, arguing that decades of reliance on military and police interventions have failed to stop the environmental crisis.

He advocated tougher penalties for illegal miners and a nationwide revival of civic education to rebuild patriotism and shift public attitudes away from greed-driven exploitation of natural resources.

According to Prof Edusa-Eyison, Ghana is at a critical moment in which environmental responsibility and national values must become foundational to development.

The Bishop of the Goaso Diocese, Rt Rev Christopher K. Dadson, praised the enduring legacy of T.W. Koomson, saying his values continue to inspire responsible Christian leadership and service as the Diocese marks its 10-year milestone.

Rt Rev Dadson stressed that national development is not merely the work of institutions or governments; it is a collective project powered by citizens who choose integrity, discipline and shared responsibility for the country’s future.