Africa-Press – Gambia. The National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday organized a day-long dialogue with religious leaders (Christians and Muslims) on environmental issues in The Gambia and how to find solutions to address the situation.
Senior Programme Officer, Environmental Education, and Communications, Sheikh AlkinkySanyang highlighted the current alarming rate of environmental destruction related to a lack of attitudinal change, noting that the NEA has tailored holistic awareness creation and sensitisation of the masses through religious leaders on the sustainable utilisation of the environment by organising this one-day conclave with them.
“In The Gambia, religious leaders serve as agents of change and have a lot of influence on people’s behaviors through their sermons and preaching. It is in this backdrop that the agency organises a day-long National Dialogue for venerable religious leaders in the country to help in the dissemination through their congregations,” he said.
Imam Omar Mbowe from the Supreme Islamic Council highlighted that cleanliness goes with Islam, emphasizing the importance of keeping the environment clean.
He noted that hospitals charge people for oxygen but God gives oxygen for free, saying that it’s,therefore, important to preserve these gifts of God.
Pastor Moses Drammeh from the Christian Council expressed the timeliness and appropriate nature of the dialogue.
“Mother Earth deserves support for the good of all. The message of religious leaders, decades ago, is more relevant today than ever before,” he said.
The Minister of Environment, Rohey John-Manjang, called for attitudinal change in the protection and management of the environment while advising citizens to avoid illegal littering.
The Director of NEA, Dawda Badjie, explained how “our environment is under serious threat”.
He added that the impact of religious leaders cannot be overemphasized, who also serve as driving forces for change.
Presentations were also done by resource persons to enlighten religious leaders on the laws associated with environmental pollution.
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