Vigilance, positive defiance key to environmental protection – Asiedu Nketia
Vigilance, positive defiance key to environmental protection – Asiedu Nketia
Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia has called for heightened vigilance and what he terms “positive defiance” as essential strategies in Ghana’s fight to protect its environment and natural resources. Speaking at a ceremony in Kumasi honoring the United Cadres’ Front (UCF), Nketia framed environmental stewardship as both a patriotic duty and a form of resistance against destructive influences.
Addressing hundreds of party faithful and UCF members, the veteran politician emphasized that communities must see themselves as the primary guardians of their local ecosystems. He urged citizens to actively resist pressures from political actors or foreign interests that might encourage environmentally harmful practices such as illegal mining, logging, or unsustainable fishing.
“They must be prepared to openly resist and reject any form of influence that undermines environmental sustainability through physical, mental, and social opposition,” Nketia stated during his June 22 address in Kumasi. His remarks came at an event themed “Ensuring Transparent Governance: The Role of Cadres,” which aimed to evaluate the UCF’s contributions to the NDC’s recent electoral success and chart a path forward for grassroots activism.
Nketia identified several attitudes that enable environmental degradation: blind obedience to authority, public apathy, selfish individualism, and complicity in illicit activities including galamsey (illegal gold mining), destructive fishing practices, sand winning, and illegal logging. He contrasted these with what he called “positive defiance” – principled resistance grounded in community welfare rather than mere opposition for its own sake.
The former party chairman urged local Unit Committees to take leadership in enforcing environmental bye-laws, drawing inspiration from historical models like the People’s Defence Committees (PDCs) that once maintained grassroots discipline in Ghanaian communities. He stressed that environmental protection requires sustained collective action to safeguard natural resources for future generations.
Supporting Nketia’s stance, NDC General Secretary Fiifi Fiave Kwetey advocated for expanding cadre membership to include more young people and instilling the movement’s core values of selflessness and sacrifice. Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene praised the UCF’s role in the party’s 2024 election victory, noting their effectiveness in mobilizing support under challenging conditions.
Environmental analysts note that Nketia’s framing of conservation as an active form of civic resistance aligns with growing global recognition of community-led environmental protection as a critical complement to government regulation. His call for “positive defiance” reflects an approach that sees environmental stewardship not as passive compliance but as active citizenship in defense of communal resources.
