Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop of Konongo-Mampong Diocese and Supreme Spiritual Director of the Knights of Marshall, has appealed to Ghanaians to be compassionate to Mother Nature by avoiding harmful practices that negatively affect the environment.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu who was the Principal Celebrant, made this appeal in his homily at the Thanksgiving Mass at the Athletic Oval at the University of Ghana, Legon, to climax the 9th Marshallan Reunion Conference which took place from 27th to 29th July, 2018.
The theme of the Reunion Conference was: “Management and the Conservation of the Environment”. It was attended by more than 6,500 Marshallans from Ghana, Togo-Benin, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burkina Faso, La Cote d’Ivoire and London who discussed the topic: “Laudato Si and Implication for Human Development: The role of the Marshallan.
Linking the theme of the Reunion Conference to the Creation account in the Book of Genesis, he said as Christians, we believe that God is the author of creation and that what He created was good. Quoting from Genesis 1:31 thus: “God saw everything He had made, and indeed, it was very good, he said “there was balance and harmony in the ecosystem and that nature, which was destined to be a home to humans, was peaceful, good and hospitable”.
He lamented, however, that today, humankind whom God specifically entrusted with the responsibility of being in charge of creation and taking care of all creatures and their habitat, has abuse that trust by engaging in harmful practices such as indiscriminate tree felling, which has depleted most of the forest cover, bush burning leading to loss of vegetation, through fire wood and charcoal production and over-grazing which have negatively impacted the environment.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu described illegal mining popularly called “galamsey” as a major threat in Ghana, arguing that apart from destroying arable land, it has also led to pollution of water bodies and deprived residents of affected communities’ potable drinking water, lamenting that this illegal act appears to thrive on the endorsement of highly placed persons in society such as politicians, Chiefs and wealthy individuals.
In this regard, he urged the government of Ghana to be firm and resolute in its resolve to stamp out the “galamsey” menace and urged governments in whose countries this menace exists to do likewise.
He similarly decried the widespread use of agro-chemicals and harmful weedicides and pesticides which he argued, negatively affects the soil, plants, animals, human beings, and water bodies, calling also for an end to littering of the environment with plastic wastes leading to choked drains in our towns and cities and eventually to flooding and loss of lives when it rains.
He, therefore, described as laudable and commendable, the institution of the National Sanitation Day on every first Saturday of the month in Ghana and appealed to all Catholics and all Ghanaians to actively participate in this exercise as a Christian duty and a civic responsibility.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu urged Marshallans and by extension Ghanaians, to acquire the habit of not only cleaning our surroundings, but most importantly, learn how not to make our environment dirty in the first place. In this regard, he recommended Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” on the care of the environment to Catholics but most especially, to policy makers, positing that it provides a good resource for all on the care of our environment.
On a good note, he recalled that the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference at its plenary in Ho in October 2017, launched an Electronic-Waste Management Project to deal with electronic waste aimed at the safe disposal of discarded electrical or electronic devices such as computers, laptops, printers, fridges, etc. to safeguard the environment. He explained that the initiative was the Bishops’ contribution to better sanitation and waste management in Ghana.
In furtherance of this, he advocated for a strong national drive involving individuals, local community leaders, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other relevant stakeholders, to effectively deal with the issue of sanitation and waste management in Ghana.
Dwelling on the readings of the day, he entreated Christians to be compassionate like Jesus and Elisha who through the miracles they performed, fed their hungry flock and community. Describing compassion as the basis of empathy and sympathy, he said “without compassion, we cannot understand what others are going through, without compassion, our families will collapse, stressing that we need compassion to understand what it means for others to be hungry, thirsty, sick, homeless, jobless and lonely.
He warned that as Christians, we shall be judged by the Son of Man on the basis of the concrete acts of goodness that we performed or failed to perform for those in need, saying “the faith that we possess must be articulated in concrete works”.
In this regard, he advised Marshallans to live in unity, a fundamental tenet of the Noble Order and to cultivate fraternal relations within their ranks, urging them to avoid divisions and factions in the Noble Order and instead, exude love, be charitable and avoid evil.
On issues of morality, he urged Marshallans to be faithful to their marital vows, advising them to avoid the use of intemperate language, physical abuse of their spouses and shun amorous relationships that could destabilize the peace in their homes and acts of debauchery among themselves as demanded of them per the Principles of the Noble Order.
The Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Msgr. Bernard Munono, who represented Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson, the Guest of Honour at the Reunion Conference and Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican and twenty-two priests from Ghana and Togo including Rev. Msgr. Hilary Senoo, Chancellor of the Ho Diocese and Rev. Frs. Dennis Opoku and James Buor Mensah, Assistant Supreme Chaplains of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall.
Among the dignitaries present were Worthy Bro. Colin Walsh, President of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights and Sir Benedict Assorow, a member of the Forum of Papal Knights and Dames, Ghana.
Also present was the hierarchy of the Noble Order led by Sir Knight Veteran Bro. Cdr. Dr. Edmund S. K. Kwaw, the Supreme Director, Sir Knight Bro. Ambrose Yennah, the Supreme Knight, Most Respected Lady Sis. Grace Budu-Smith, the Grand Lady and eight Substantive Past Supreme Knights and six Substantive Past Grand Ladies including Sir Knight Bro. James Adomako and Sir Knight Bro. Ing. Samuel Barnes, Most Respected Lady Sis. Dame Theresa Poobe and Most Respected Lady Sis. Margaret Gasie-Essilfie, among others.
Also in attendance were Worthy Bro. Charles Cobb, Deputy Supreme Knight, and Respected Lady Sis. Dame Dr. Agatha Akua Bonney, Deputy Grand Lady, Worthy Bro. Daniel Kwabo, State Grand Knight of Liberia and his counterpart for Togo-Benin, Worthy Bro. Cyrille Attiogbe as well as Respected Lady Sis. Amelia Ayomanor, State Noble Lady of Liberia and her counterpart for Togo-Benin, Respected Lady Sis. Felicissime CRINOT, among others.
Six Councils and Courts namely; Councils 2, Saltpond and 99 Wamfie, and Courts 35, Saltpond, 96, Osu, 40 Mathaheko, and 110, Airport West, who were adjudged outstanding during the Reunion Conference, were honoured with Citations.
In his closing remarks, the Supreme Knight pledged that the keynote address on the theme of the Reunion Conference by Peter Cardinal Turkson which was delivered on his behalf by Rev. Msgr. Munono, will be carefully studied for implementation in the various Councils and Courts in the eight operation countries of the Noble Order.
He expressed hope that the Noble Order will be able join forces with other societies and stakeholders to stem the tide of environmental degradation and by so doing, be a part of the solution and not the problem.
The Supreme Director declared the 9th Marshallan Reunion Conference, duly closed.
STORY BY: BRO. FRANCIS EKOW MONNIE