From desert fathers to Ghanaian pilgrims: Sacred space and ecology at Abeisua mountain

Abstract

The heaps of waste generated at prayer sites in Ghana lead to questions about whether patrons of these sites go to feast or worship. It is paradoxical when compared to the habits of early Christian monks and nuns who paid considerable attention to their surroundings which attracted many visitors to the monasteries for various benefits. Today, Ghanaian Christians who visit sacred sites do not care for the environment and as a result, desecrate the surroundings. This article evaluates the environmental interests and impacts of patrons of sacred prayer sites in Ghana especially at Abeisua (Atwea) mountain and the early Christian monasteries. This historical and comparative study reveals that whereas the early Christians saw themselves as stewards of the environment, and thus properly conserved it, most Ghanaian Christians today only admire the flora around the sacred sites but do not feel responsible for their upkeep, thereby engaging in indiscriminate littering.

Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article argues for considerable education on environmental stewardship and collaboration between the managers and stakeholders of the sacred sites while exploring the establishment of structures as a tool for ecological sustainability.