By Ben Ackah-Mensah
…Marshallans call for urgent action against environmental degradation and impending doom
About a fortnight ago, at the end of the first week in September 2024, what would have looked like just an unusual gathering of some curious-looking old men or event to the uninitiated observer but which was actually an important meeting of immense national and global interest took place somewhere in the twin city of Secondi-Takoradi.
Some very eminent and noble men, all cladded in black suits, white shirts, black bow ties and matching pairs of neatly polished black shoes suddenly descended on the suburb. Their average age, considerably above that of the pension age in Ghana, 60 years old. They had traveled from across the sixteen regions of Ghana to lock themselves behind a chamber that probably would have been regally guarded by some sentries to prevent access to uninitiated men, or those who have not attained a certain degree of spirituality. What were they doing there? I’m sure some inquisitive people around the area wondered.
Well, nothing untoward happened actually; except the fact that they were there for business as usual, but this time around, with the resolve to urgently act upon certain things threatening the existence of humankind. Yes! Theirs was not to prevent a collision of a Martian asteroid into Earth but of equal importance if they were to contribute their quota in saving our planet from an impending doom for future generations and posterity.
They are members of a Standing Committee of the Supreme Council of a friendly Catholic society interested in bringing men (and women) together in the practice of unity, charity and service, not only for themselves but to the benefit of mankind, and wherever they might find themselves in the world. They are Marshallans – they belong to the Noble Order of Knights and Ladies of Marshall.
These gentlemen, who could have spent their time elsewhere on other passions, had gathered to discussed, among other issues, the destruction of our environment and the need to protect the planet and preserve life, especially in Ghana. They had spent some of the time talking about consequences of some of humans’ greedy practices and the need to admonish its members and Ghanaians to take urgent action against a resultant Armageddon. A horror movie under production.
They are gravely worried, and so must all good-meaning Ghanaians, about the future of the country and the peaceful enjoyment of life by its offspring. The speedy rate (or if you like, the Usian Bolt speed) of degradation of the country’s natural resources, including forests, wildlife and other areas of biodiversity of global significance is frightening. They have witnessed with profound interest the alarming state of the environment in Ghana in the last 30 years, noting that “the rampant destruction of forests, pollution of rivers, and existential threats to life demand immediate attention and collective action”.
Thus, they have waded into the fight against indiscriminate and illegal mining, locally referred to as Galamsay. The say it is no more advisable to keep quiet, sit and watch aloof while the toxic chemicals from illegal mining cause cancers and other skin and health problems in humans who use contaminated water. Sediments deposited into water bodies during illegal mining contain heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic, and lead, which are toxic to aquatic and human lives. A visit to rivers Pra and Ankobra alone, and some waterfalls in Ghana drums home this point strongly. Their waters have turned as brown as coffee with milk.
They have also noted that some of our agricultural practices such as irresponsible logging, land clearance, expansions and deforestation have led to devastating forest loss, threatening biodiversity, climate regulation, and indigenous communities. Here, Galamsay is, again, a culprit.
They squirm when they see rivers, lakes, and the ocean contaminated with plastics, chemicals, and waste, imperiling aquatic life and human health, and affecting global water supply. Anyone who has been a lover of the beach for quite some time can attest to the fact that even the sea level is rising, with miles of plastic waves drifting ashore. Sad! Just visit Prampram, Teshie-Nungua, or Ada and the impending Armageddon would be clear to you.
We are experiencing floods in most areas with the slightest sustained rainfalls. Bridges are caving in, mountains are sliding down while at some places, water bodies are drying up. The situation is scary. We are gradually losing our home, Earth.
Marshallans, thus, warn that the existential threats such as climate change, species extinction, and ecosystem degradation are jeopardizing the very foundation of life on Earth. In a communiqué, after those men cladded in black and white had met, and which is signed by the leader of the Noble Order of Knights of Marshall, Supreme Knight, Sir Knight Brother Richard Ayih-Akakpo, to its members, and by extension, to the nation, the group has warned that, “Nature does not forgive and will surely avenge any mistreatment of it. We are nearly at the threshold of nature beginning to unleash its fury and avenge for the agony humans have caused it!” There you are!
In his second encyclical, Laudato si’ (Praise Be to You), subtitled “On care for our common home”, Pope Francis, points out that consumerism and irresponsible economic development are to be partly blamed for environmental degradation and global warming, and therefore calls on all peoples of the world to take “swift and unified global action”.
He fingers unrelenting exploitation and destruction of the environment due to apathy and reckless pursuit of profits as part of the problem, and excessive faith in technology and political shortsightedness. He had afore-warned that, “climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day” and that unprecedented destruction of ecosystems beckon, if mitigating efforts are not undertaken promptly.
…and so you see? The Marshallans are right to be worried. Hence, there is no better time to re-echo the call for an immediate action to be taken by all than now.
Furthermore, to give credence to the fervent appeal to mind our environment, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has also stated that the Earth is “experiencing a dangerous decline in nature, and humans are causing it”.
It says, we are the culprits; you and I are hurting the environment. Period! “We are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands”. (https://www.unep.org/facts-about-nature-crisis) In a layman’s parlance, we are living beyond our means. We are over-burdening Earth. Simply put, we are breaking its neck, as we say in Ghana. Do we even pause to think about our children’s children and their children?
IPBES, the independent intergovernmental body for biodiversity and ecosystem services which works closely with UNEP, reports that about one million of the world’s estimated 8 million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction. According to them, the horror story does not end there. 75 percent of the Earth’s land surface has been significantly altered by our (human) actions, including 85 percent of wetland areas.
Frighteningly, more than half of ocean area, about 66 percent, is impacted by human activities such as fisheries and pollution. UNEP and Chatham House estimates that global food is also threatened. About 24,000 of the 28,000 species are at risk of extinction, whilst UNCTAD warns that close to 90% of the world’s marine fish stocks are fully exploited, overexploited or depleted. Kenkey Boutique and Keta School Boys on my mind.
Agricultural expansion is said to account for 70% of the projected loss of terrestrial biodiversity, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) also alerts.
Supreme Knight
Noble Order of Knights of Marshall
Thus, UNEP unceasingly warns that nature loss has far-reaching consequences of the damaged ecosystems worsening climate change, undermining food security and putting people and communities at risk.
It reports that about 40 percent of the world’s population i.e. 3.2 billion people are adversely affected by land degradation, and also some 100 to 300 million people are at increased risk of floods and hurricanes because of coastal habitat loss; but there are things we can do to halt and reverse this.
So, there is a glimmer of hope to, as the Marshallans have optimistically put it, “preserve the natural resources for future generations, ensure a healthy, thriving planet, and protect the inherent right to a safe and sustainable environment”. This is what they are calling for.
There’s optimism, the Armageddon may not happen after all but UNEP estimates that the world, unfortunately, has only until the end of the decade to change our ways and bend the curve on nature and biodiversity loss downwards. Mind us, a decade is not too long – just a little over the time to bear with a bad government or president. Hence, we ought to act fast. UNEP says, “Transformational change is possible if we start now at every level from local to global”. They advise that investments in nature-based solutions will need to, at least, triple by 2030 if the world is to meet its climate change, biodiversity and land degradation targets.
Also, it is recommended that averting any large-scale collapse of nature must involve “effective conservation of more of our land, inland waters and oceans, as well as the world delivering on its current commitment to restore at least one billion hectares of degraded land in the next decade”. I’m laughing! There’s work to do.
UNEP again suggests that, “We need to transform our food systems to become more sustainable and resilient in order to reverse environmental degradation, restore ecosystems and ensure food and nutritional security”.
It is also recommended that “Governments must assign a financial value on the services that nature provides to people so that environmental action can be prioritized in policy and investment decisions”, and that “Corporations should put sustainability at the heart of decision making and focus on new sustainable business models to meet society’s needs in ways less impactful on the environment”.
The Noble Order of Knights of Marshall, buying into the above recommendations and concerned about the urgency of the matter thus issued the communiqué to amplify the call to immediate action. It is calling on Government to strengthen efforts in controlling indiscriminate and illegal mining, and implement robust environmental regulations and enforcement.
It has also issued the following action points to guide its members and Ghanaians as to the little all can do to help in diverse ways to protect the environment. That, all must adopt sustainable practices in businesses, homes, offices, neighbourhoods etcetera by applying eco-friendly policies, reduce carbon footprints, and promote the use of renewable energy, as well as undertake or improve conservation efforts such as protecting and or restoring forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitats.
A creative way of doing this might be for all to organize brainstorming sessions at work, schools, homes, meetings, churches, societies and communities to educate and empower people in environmental stewardships.
They also propose to all religious groups to develop a spirituality that recognizes the theology, ethics, and faith practices that integrate ecology and environment, stating that, “It is time now, for instance, that Christians began to recognize human sins against the environment as having the same gravity as sins against other humans.”
Thus, to conclude on a lighter but serious note, I can imagine additional commandments like:
- Thou shall not cut trees indiscriminately. A tree is a living thing like humans
- Thou shall not engage in Galamsay. Its effects amount to killing humans
- Thou shall not throw garbage, especially, plastics into drains, gutters, streams, rivers and the sea or anywhere, for it causes flooding to kill humans
- Thou shall not burn bushes and rubbish, for they shall pollute the environment
- Thou shall not drive or use smoking vehicles or machinery, for you will burn in eternal fire
- Thou shall not eat baby fishes – Keta School Boys, Small Small Tilapias, Baby Kpanla, Baby Crabs etc. Leave them to grow and replenish. Eating them amounts to killing or is equivalent to abortion) etc etc.
Seriously, nature cannot be taken for granted. Just like water, it will always find its way, and when it does, it is usually catastrophic. Be forewarned, Marshallans have spoken!
