Islamic faith leaders deliberate on Climate Change

Leaders of the Islamic faith in Ghana held a workshop on Climate Change, Wednesday 21st August, at the new World Bank Ghana office at Ridge in Accra, to interact with researchers to learn and understand the critical issues, and to discuss the best options in leading Climate Change communication and behavioural change in their congregations.

It was a really knowledge enriching event, and it was attended by Imams, Duats, scholars and women leaders in the faith.

Moslem Woman
Photo Credit: George AgboKlu

The event was organised by Alhussunna Wal Jama’a, in partnership with RELBONET and support from The World Bank and local sponsors.

Dr. Adeline Mensah from the Institute on Environment and Sanitation, University of Ghana gave great presentation on the science, causes, effects and impacts of Climate Change. Sheikh Salman Mohammed Alhassan did another spirited presentation on the phenomenon from Islamic perspectives, drawing on provisions in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunna.

The World Bank office in Ghana facilitated a video conference on their network for the workshop, joining experts from the bank’s Washington office; expert on faith in development, Catherine Marshal from the Georgetown University in Nairobi, Kenya; Islamic leaders from Monrovia, Liberia and Freetown, Sierra Leone for a really lively discussion.

Dr E. MensahSector Leader, Sustainable Development of the World Bank for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Waqar Haider, enumerated some interventions his organisation is funding in Ghana in the areas of commercial agriculture, fisheries, energy, oil and gas, and urban transportation.

The leaders, at the end of the workshop, declared their resolve to teach and lead the behavioural change by example; by practising by themselves first, the edicts of their Holy Scriptures.

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