The event was held under the theme “Water, poverty and development nexus” and brought together the academia, policy makers and the church. The Most Reverend Dr. Richard Baawobr, Catholic Bishop of Wa, in a keynote address called for strong backing for the government’s effort at protecting the environment – water bodies and forests.

He said it was important to recognize that this was in the interest of everybody and that was why they should find space to contribute to what he termed a noble cause. Water, he indicated, was the source of life and therefore could not continue to be destroyed and polluted.

The Rev Dr. Bawoobr said it was deeply troubling that about 60 per cent of water bodies in the country had become polluted through unrestrained activities of the people. He invited his colleague priests to use the pulpit to talk the congregation out of activities that were destroying the environment.

He also urged strict enforcement of the laws by the regulatory bodies to get people to do the right things.