Environmental Degradation and Poverty in Amansie Traditional Area: Investigating the Contributing Factors and the Role of Religion
Charles Owusu Ampofo
Issue: Vol.6 No.6 September 2020 5th Anniversary Special Edition Article 3 pp. 290-296
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.2020093 | Published online 14th September 2020.
© 2020 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Environmental degradation and poverty are challenges faced in most parts of the world, and the global quest by some researchers to know the role religious bodieson should play in relation to these issues of concern continues unabated. The ripple effect of these challenges manifests in many areas such as socially, economically, morally, and spiritually. However, the prevailing factors within localities vary, hence requiring wholistic investigations peculiar to a community. Notably, these challenges cannot only be addressed by Government hence the call on Rreligious Bodiesn as an institution to assist in curbing this menace. This paper investigates the factors contributing to environmental degradation and poverty in Amansie Traditional Area and the role religion should play in addressing these challenges. Questionnaires and interviews were administered to assess these factors from townsfolks, religious leaders, institution heads, and other stakeholders. The results revealed significant factors contributing to these challenges and the roles both African Tradition and Christianity should play in addressing these challenges. The study recommends a strong collaborative effort from all stakeholders, especially religious institutions, in educating and sensitizing the people of Amansie on the issues of environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation.
Keywords: Environmental degradation, poverty, religion, African Traditional Religion, Christianity.
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Charles Owusu Ampofo is an ordained minister of the Ghana Baptist Convention and is currently serving at the Victory Baptist Church, Kumasi-Ghana. Presently, he is the sitting president of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference and has in the past lectured in the Seminary. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Religious Studies (KNUST), and holds a PGDE (UCC), MA. (ACT), and MPhil. (KNUST). He has research interests in exploring relationships between religion and environment, and religion and poverty.
Ampofo, Charles, “Environmental Degradation and Poverty in Amansie Traditional Area: Investigating the Contributing Factors and the Role of Religion” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies – 5th Anniversary Special Edition 6, no.6 (2020): 290-296 https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.2020093
© 2020 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
