Ghana must rethink wealth and protect nature — GCI Board Chair

The Board Chairman of Green Communities International (GCI), Douglas Boateng, has called for a fundamental shift in global priorities, urging society to move away from the pursuit of material wealth towards environmental responsibility.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for the organisation’s Board of Directors and Trustees at the University of Ghana, Prof. Boateng warned that humanity’s future hinges on how well natural resources are protected today.

“The earth is ours to protect, we should not think we are not affected by its destruction,” he said.

He criticised what he described as a growing fixation on wealth accumulation at the expense of environmental sustainability, cautioning that such priorities threaten the very systems that sustain life.

“You can’t drink gold, but you need water. Water keeps us alive, not gold. Yet we have prioritised gold because it allows us to buy our Gucci bags,” he stated.

Prof. Boateng argued that society must redefine its understanding of wealth, insisting that value should be measured by what is preserved for future generations rather than what is consumed in the present.

“True wealth is what we choose to leave behind,” he added.

He explained that Green Communities International was established to provide evidence-based support to institutions, communities and policymakers in addressing pressing environmental challenges, with a strong emphasis on long-term, generational impact.

According to him, the organisation’s work is designed to transcend political cycles, focusing instead on sustainable solutions that safeguard ecosystems and livelihoods over time.

Prof. Boateng expressed confidence in the newly inaugurated board, noting that its members bring a wealth of expertise capable of driving meaningful change in environmental governance and advocacy.

The board comprises prominent figures, including Vice Chairperson Rev. Angela Carmen Appiah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Prof. De-Graft Owusu-Manu, Board Secretary Mrs. Matilda Owusu-Manu, as well as Prof. Kingsley Opoku Applah, Dr. Kenneth Appiah Donkor-Hylaman, Dr. Christian Sewordor Mensah, and Rev. (Dr.) Nanayaa Tina Owusu-Prempeh as members.

He urged stakeholders across sectors to prioritise initiatives that protect the environment and improve lives, challenging them to reflect on the legacy they are creating.

“What are we leaving for the generations to come?” he questioned.