The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Ghana (ECG), Maxwell K.K. Liwangol, has called on citizens to adopt a new mindset and play an active role in complementing the government's efforts to tackle key national development challenges.

Particularly, he said Ghanaians must support the government to fight illegal mining, rid the country of filth, and improve the economic conditions in the country.

Addressing congregants at the 31st Watchnight Service at the Old Fadama branch of the church in Accra, Bishop Liwangol stressed that while the government was doing its best to fight illegal mining (galamsey) to save the country's landscape and water resources from further destruction, it would take concerted efforts involving all citizens, especially at the local communities, to curb the environmental crime.

In that regard, he asked Ghanaians to shelve their political colours and be united around the national flag in the search for solutions to the galamsey menace.

"If you want galamsey to thrive so that you can draw political capital out of it, then you are not a good citizen. If the land, waterbodies, forest reserves and other ecosystems are entirely destroyed by illegal miners, all of us will suffer the consequences - these things do not know who belongs to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the New Patriotic Party (NPP)," he said.

While commending President John Mahama for demonstrating the political will to fight galamsey through a raft of measures, including the revocation of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2462), he said more needed to be done to curb the menace.

For instance, he stressed that all appointees of the President must live up to the responsibilities entrusted in them to protect the environment.

"All ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and other appointees must know that the President appointed them to address development challenges, including promoting environmental stewardship, to make life better for citizens," he stressed.

Economic challenges 

The Presiding Bishop lauded the government's economic management team for doing the right things to improve on economic indicators such as the exchange rate, inflation, policy rate, and improving the business environment.

However, he said it was worrying that while those economic indicators were improving, there was no noticeable improvement in the prices of things in the market and the pockets of citizens.

"Many Ghanaians are wondering why the government has succeeded in making the local currency stronger but prices of items in the markets are not seeing a corresponding reduction.

"Businesses use to complain that the high exchange rate was affecting their activities, but now that the cedi has picked up strength against the dollar, they must be reducing their prices so that Ghanaians will benefit," he added.

Sanitation

Touching on sanitation, the clergyman said if indeed Ghanaians claimed to be religious, they needed to demonstrate that by protecting their immediate surroundings from being inundated by filth.

He said it was not for nothing that the mantra "cleanliness is next to godliness" had gained currency among Christians.

"You cannot be a true Christian and live in a dirty environment; so, take steps to clear your gutters of filth and help your community from sanitation-related diseases," he said.

Renewal 

Bishop Liwangol, who unveiled the church's theme for the year - "A New Name in Christ," said 2026 would bring good tidings to all who were diligent while seeking the face of God.

"All dried streams will start flowing with water; the economy will continue to blossom; their will be joy for those who are waiting on God for answers; and Ghana will move from grace to grace," he said.

He called on citizens to allow for the spirit of love, peace, togetherness, and patriotism to take over the country rather than parochial interests.