The Ambassador of Italy to Ghana and Togo, Laura Ranalli, has called for closer collaboration and stronger policies to protect the environment.
She said environmental protection issues such as climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss were major challenges that required collective action.
"Greater commitment from citizens is also needed to safeguard the environment and biodiversity," she said.
The Ambassador made the call in Accra at the opening of an international art exhibition in Accra.
The exhibition is dubbed "Beyond Creation: Humanity, Nature and Spirituality – A Universal Message."
It commemorates the 800th death anniversary of St Francis of Assisi, a major religious figure and one of the official patron saints of Italy.
It also explores humanity’s relationship with nature and spirituality.
Mrs Ranalli said the saint’s emphasis on peace, fraternity, solidarity and environmental protection offered a basis for reflecting on humanity’s responsibility towards the natural world.
"This message remains relevant at a time when climate change, environmental protection and biodiversity are crucial concerns," she stated.
Exhibition
The exhibition, which opened at the Accra Arts Centre on Sunday, October 4, runs until November 4, 2026. It brings together 40 artists from more than 10 countries to explore the relationship among humanity, nature and spirituality.
The exhibition is curated by Ghanaian curator, Nuna Adisenu-Doe, and Italian artist and curator, Andrea Walter Ghia.
They said the exhibition was intended to encourage the view that all humanity was part of an interconnected community of life.
The exhibition is organised around three thematic sections: The Sacred in Creation, which examines nature as a manifestation of the divine; Brothers and Sisters of the Earth, which explores the interconnectedness of humans and nature; and Guardians of the Future, which focuses on ecology, responsibility and the future.
Cultural cooperation
For his part, the Acting Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Wakefield Wisdom Ackuaku, said the exhibition provided a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue.
He said the convergence of Franciscan thought and African spiritual and ecological traditions offered an opportunity to reflect on values including reverence, responsibility, reciprocity and coexistence.
He said the collaboration with the Italian Embassy would deepen cultural cooperation between Ghana and Italy and encourage conversations beyond the exhibition space.
