Environment Minister calls for environmental issues to be prioritised in security planning

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for greater consideration of environmental challenges in national security planning, warning that climate change, land degradation and water insecurity could contribute to instability.

She said environmental and security issues were increasingly interconnected and should therefore form part of long-term strategic considerations by national leaders and security institutions.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the call as Guest of Honour at the Induction Religious Service for participants of the Senior Command and Staff Course (SCSC) 48 of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), held on Sunday.

The service, held under the theme, “Service to God, Service to Country,” brought together participants to reflect on the values of faith, professional responsibility, integrity and commitment to national service.

Addressing the participants, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings urged them to regard leadership as a responsibility to God, their respective countries and the people entrusted to their care.

She said the theme was particularly relevant to leadership because both faith and effective leadership required integrity, compassion, discipline, humility and the responsible exercise of authority.

The Minister encouraged the participants to draw on the diverse experiences of colleagues from Ghana and allied countries, noting that the increasingly complex and interconnected security challenges confronting nations required greater cooperation, trust and shared understanding.

She also used the biblical account of Gideon’s army to emphasise the importance of courage, alertness, discipline and effective training.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings noted that a small number of well-trained and disciplined soldiers could achieve more than a larger force that lacked preparedness and discipline, underscoring the importance of professional competence in national service.

The Minister’s remarks added an environmental dimension to the security discourse, highlighting the need for security professionals to recognise how environmental pressures could affect stability and national development.

The religious service formed part of activities to induct participants of SCSC 48, reinforcing the values and responsibilities expected of officers preparing for senior command and leadership roles.

Delivering the homily, the Imam, Major M. Alhassan, urged the participants to regard service to the country as a sacred trust to be discharged with sincerity, integrity, justice, discipline and responsibility.

He reminded the officers that positions and responsibilities entrusted to them would ultimately be accounted for before Allah and encouraged them to lead by example, embrace consultation, and allow justice and compassion to guide their decisions.