Church of Pentecost launches nationwide Environmental Care Campaign

The Church of Pentecost has launched a nationwide sanitation project dubbed “Environmental Care Campaign” to rid the country of filth.

The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye who launched the campaign underscored the importance of keeping the environment clean and how the Church can contribute to national development.

The project was launched at the auditorium of PIWC-Kokomlemle in Accra on Thursday November 22 under the slogan “My Environment, My Responsibility” with support from Zoomlion Ghana Limited and the Government of Ghana.

The Environmental Care Campaign is planned to be tackled in four main categories, Aps. Nyamekye mentioned: education, Clean-up exercises, community-based initiatives and other activities.

Under education for instance, the Church will focus on attitudinal change as it highlights on some unhealthy practices that contribute to environmental degradation: open defecation, noise pollution, improper disposal of waste, poor handling of pests and domestic animals, and unfriendly environmental-means of livelihood.

Members of The Church of Pentecost and the general public, Aps. Nyamekye said would be educated on existing environmental by-laws.

So far, the Church has trained over 100,000 Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses to spearhead the campaign and printed over 300,000 brochures for the public education using the #CleanGhana.

PARTNERSHIP WITH ZOOMLION GHANA LTD

CEO of Zoomlion, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong

Aps. Nyamekye commended Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, “one of the most effective and renowned Waste Management Companies in Ghana”, for accepting to partner the church to execute the project.

The company, he said, will be providing personnel and equipment during the clean-up exercises across the nation.

The first clean up under the campaign would take place in Kasoa on Saturday November 24. Zoomlion has offered to distribute 500 waste bins and has also agreed to erect some litter bins at some strategic places in the area, Apostle Eric Nyamekye announced.

EXPECTATIONS FROM GOVERNMENT

Noting that the campaign is in line with the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost requested Government to:

Support the launch of the Campaign at the various levels by directing government institutions concerned with the management of the environment such as Ministries of Sanitation, Environment, Local Government, Forestry, NCCE etc to support this initiative by the church.
Be committed to environmental law enforcement at all levels
Provide waste bins at all levels so that as we educate the public, we could direct them to where bins could be obtained.
Engage efficient Waste Management Companies to ensure the prompt collection of waste from homes and communities

Aps. Nyamekye was confident the Environmental Care Campaign will bring to bear on the general public the need to consciously collaborate with governments, law enforcement agencies, and waste management companies to ensure clean and healthy environments.

“Further, we maintain high hopes that this collaborative efforts between the church and government to preserve the environment, keep our drains and highways free of wastes will continue unhindered.”

The CEO of Zoomlion, Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong; Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah; Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Mohammed Adjei Sowah all pledged the support of their respective institutions to ensure that the campaign achieves its objectives.

The Environmental Care Campaign follows similar ones by the Church of Pentecost including the Agent of Peace Campaign in 2016 prior to the general elections, and Entrepreneurship and Investment as well as Gambling and Social Media campaign in 2017.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR “ENVIRONMENTAL CARE” CAMPAIGN

S/N	MONTH	SUGGESTED ACTIVITY	REGIONS/AREA TO LAUNCH AN AREA-WIDE MASSIVE ACTIVITY
1.	November 2018	Formation of ECC Teams, request of brochures and paraphernalia
2.	December 2018	*Launch the Environmental Care Campaign in all Local Assemblies; Use of brochure to teach in all Local Assemblies and during Christmas Convention. *One radio broadcast on ECC	Areas in Greater Accra Region to launch an Area-level Clean Up Campaign
3.	January 2019	Each Local Assembly, Area/District Mission House to get a bin. Each Assembly and District to identify community-based initiative One radio broadcast on ECC
4.	February 2019	*All households and workplaces of members to own bins. Continue education using Apostolization and designated Ministry Week	Areas in Ashanti and Western Region to launch an Area-level Clean Up Campaign
5.	March 2019	All households and workplaces of members to own bins. Continue education using Apostolization and designated Ministry Week Cell Groups to engage in community impact activities. *One radio broadcast on ECC	Areas in Northern, Upper East and Upper West Region to launch an Area-level Clean Up Campaign
6.	April 2019	Use the Easter Conventions to highlight the Environmental Care Campaign All church-based institutions (Pentecost Basic and Secondary Schools, PUC. PTS, PPL, Pentecost Hospital etc.) should comply with the tenets of the Environmental Care Campaign to serve as a model.
7.	May 2019	Tree planting exercises and greening at Church sites, mission houses and other specific areas. This could be done in collaboration with Forestry Commission in the various District Assemblies. Organize Children & Youth Quizzes and competitions on the Environmental Care Campaign All Districts to launch District-level Campaign Cell Groups to engage in community impact activities. *One radio broadcast on ECC	Areas in Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions to launch an Area-level Clean Up Campaign
8.	June 2019		Areas in Volta and Central Regions to launch an Area-level Clean Up Campaign
9.	July 2019	Organize Children & Youth Quizzes and competitions on the Environmental Care Campaign Initiate “Cleanliest Church in the Area” competition could be organised *EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF ECC	Areas in Greater Accra Region to launch an Area-level Clean Up Campaign
10.	August 2019	Organize Children & Youth Quizzes and competitions on the ECC Initiate “Cleanliest Church in the Area” competition could be organised	Areas to choose a period within the last quarter for an engage in any community impact initiative.
11.	September 2019
12.	October 2019	EVALUATION OF IMPACT OF ECC
13.	November 2019	Awards for the various Competition
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES AT VARIOUS LEVELS Use of social media platforms to promote the campaign. The hashtag is #CleanGhana*