GREED, selfishness and the relentless pursuit of profit are driving humanity towards an ecological catastrophe, the Parish Priest of Christ the King Catholic Church, Effiakuma, Rev. Fr Eugene Antwi Boasiako, OFM Conv., has warned.
He said exploiting nature for economic gain, without regard for consequences on human life and future generations, had become a moral and spiritual crisis requiring urgent action.
Rev. Fr Antwi Boasiako made the observation in a reflection with The Ghanaian Times on Tuesday after leading parishioners in a Holy Mass to mark the Season of Creation and World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
This year’s theme: ‘Living Water,’ highlights the growing scarcity of fresh water and inequalities in access to the essential resource.
Rev. Fr Antwi Boasiako cautioned against dangerous practices driven by the desire for quick profits, saying they threatened public health and the environment.
“We should avoid the ecological crisis. Due to selfishness and greed, we put chemicals on plantain to enable it ripen prematurely and serve as food for public consumption. Note, you will not get the blessings you desire,” he warned.
He urged Christians to see themselves as stewards of God’s creation and protect the earth, rivers and environment for future generations.
Quoting Genesis 2:15, which calls on humanity to “work it and take care of it,” the priest said the biblical injunction required people to nurture creation rather than exploit it.
“The earth belongs to God and must be managed according to the loving character of the Shepherd,” he said, stressing that humanity had a duty “to let creation flourish and not to deplete it.”
Drawing on the environmental teachings of the late Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, Rev. Fr Antwi Boasiako said the ecological crisis was not merely political or scientific but a profound moral failure.
Rev. Fr Antwi Boasiako condemned indiscriminate waste disposal, particularly along the coast, saying the poor and environment often paid the highest price for resource exploitation.
He called for an “ecological conversion” to overcome consumerism and embrace responsible living.
Reflecting on the Franciscan vision, he cited The Canticle of the Creatures, composed by St Francis of Assisi in 1225, saying its message remained relevant today for humanity.
“The ecological teachings of St Francis are more relevant today than ever,” he stressed.
He also reminded Christians that Articles 36 and 41(k) of the 1992 Constitution placed obligations on the State and citizens to protect the environment for future generations.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV, in his September prayer intentions, called on Christians to denounce waste and pollution and defend every person’s right to access water without fear or inequality.
He described water as a symbol of God’s grace and love and prayed for forgiveness for humanity’s failure to preserve it as a universal gift rather than a commodity.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, EFFIAKUMA
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