Cleanliness is not optional: The Church must lead the charge

There are moments in a nation’s life when words must give way to action.

The launch of the 2026 Christian Home Week by the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, is one such moment.

At its core, the message is simple but urgent: environmental cleanliness is not just a civic obligation, it is a moral one. And in a country where more than 70 per cent of the population identifies as Christian, the Church cannot afford to stand on the sidelines.

The theme for this year’s celebration, captured in the study book “A Clean Environment, Our Responsibility,” is both timely and necessary.

Ghana is grappling with the harsh realities of environmental neglect, illegal mining that scars our lands and poisons our rivers, choking drains that invite floods, and unsanitary conditions that fuel diseases such as cholera and malaria.

These are not abstract concerns; they are lived experiences for many citizens.

It is therefore refreshing that the Christian Council is seeking to move the conversation beyond rhetoric.

The introduction of the Environmental Care and Cleanliness Programme (ECC) and the National Volunteers Programme (NAVOP) signals a welcome shift towards practical engagement.

The inclusion of discussions on sanitation laws, environmental stewardship from a biblical perspective, and the real impact of illegal mining shows a commendable attempt to connect faith with everyday responsibility.

The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, could not have put it more plainly when he described the Church as “one of the most transformative forces in Ghana’s history.”

Indeed, the Church has long been a pillar in education, healthcare and social cohesion.

Why then should it not also be at the forefront of the fight for a cleaner environment?

But let us be clear: influence alone is not enough. The real test lies in mobilisation.

Encouraging congregations to participate in the monthly National Sanitation Day is a step in the right direction, but it must not become another symbolic exercise.

The sight of clean church compounds surrounded by filthy neighbourhoods is a contradiction we can no longer tolerate.

The Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, rightly described the initiative as timely.

Yet, timeliness must be matched with urgency.

Ghana’s environmental challenges are not waiting politely for committees and conferences.

Reverend John Ntim Fordjour’s call for “urgent and collective action” should therefore resonate beyond the walls of the launch event. Environmental stewardship cannot be left to government alone.

It demands a united front, religious bodies, traditional authorities, civil society and, crucially, ordinary citizens.

The Christian Council’s General Secretary, Reverend (Dr) Cyril Fayose, is also right to emphasise the role of youth, volunteerism and education.

If the next generation is not actively engaged, any gains made today will be short-lived. Behavioural change must be cultivated, not commanded.

Yet, even as we commend these efforts, we must guard against a familiar national weakness: enthusiasm at launch, followed by silence in execution.

Ghana has no shortage of well-intentioned initiatives. What we lack is sustained commitment.

This is where the Church must rise above convention. Sermons on stewardship must translate into community clean-up campaigns.

Bible study groups must become hubs for environmental advocacy. Church leaders must speak not only from pulpits but also through action, challenging illegal mining, promoting sanitation, and holding members accountable.

Let the Church lead, not just in words, but in visible, measurable action. Let government provide the enabling framework and enforce the laws without fear or favour.

Cleanliness must cease to be an occasional exercise and become a daily habit.

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