By CISA
ACCRA, OCTOBER 6, 2020 (CISA)-Caritas Ghana has raised concerns over disposal of waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEE) in many cities in Africa as the world marked the 2020 Season of Creation.
The Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action for the environment, begins on 1 September.
“Many cities in Africa have unfortunately become dumpsites for the discarded electronic waste for many reasons causing environmental issues,” Samuel Zan Akologo, the Chief executive of Caritas Ghana, said in his presentation during a virtual celebration themed, “Season of Creation – Inclusive Action for the Management of Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Ghana.”
“The rapid updates of modern technology and the surge in the use of electronic and electrical equipment over the last few years have come along with a steady increase in the amount of WEE produced over a short period of time,” he said.
He expressed caritas Ghana’s is commitment to creating awareness about effective E-waste management as a means to sustain the Earth as Our Common Home whilst renewing our relationship with the Creator.
“The concern for E-waste is not only limited to the amount of waste generated but also the challenges related to effective means of disposal and the accompanying health and environmental implications,” he said.
While reflecting on the relevance of the “Season of Creation” especially among faith communities, Fr Charles Boampong Sarfo, the Assistant Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat in Accra, said the “Season of Creation” is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment.
With the theme for this year’s celebration of the Season of Creation “Jubilee for the Earth,” he said the Church calls for prayer and action for our common home, noting that the Jubilee for the earth is called to humanity to let the trumpet sounds on the need to care for our common home.
Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle the Archbishop of Cape Coast and President of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference stressed on response by the local church on the clarion call of Pope Francis in Laudato Si.
“We must admit that the earth is crying for respect,” he said calling for integral ecological sensitivity, ecological conversion, ecological education, ecological justice and stewardship.
Other speakers during the virtual celebration were Madam Cynthia Bediako, the Chief Director of Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and, Dr Mariazel Maqueda López, Nanotechnologist working in different domains of international cooperation and sustainable development in Switzerland.
The first virtual webinar series held on September 30, 2020 is one of Caritas Ghana’s key activities for the Season of Creation which is celebrated from September 1, the Day of Prayer for Creation to October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
