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Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has encouraged Muslims in the country to use social media platforms for weekly Jummah prayers in compliance with the President’s directive of avoiding congregational religious service to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

“I will like to encourage Imams and mosques across the country to consider this online innovation,” he said.
Addressing some eminent Muslim clerics at the Jubilee House, the seat of the Presidency, in Accra on Friday, to pray against the COVID-19, Vice President Bawumia, said the disease was ravaging global economies and claiming many lives, thereby compelling the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare the deadly disease ‘a pandemic’.

Dr Bawumia recounted some stringent measures the Government had instituted to curb the spread of the virus including debarring public gathering such as congregational religious service in churches and mosques, funerals, closure of schools, travel restrictions for people coming from countries that had recorded 200 or more confirmed cases of Covid-19, designated isolation and treatment centres at some health facilities, screening of travellers with thermal scanners at the country’s points of entry, among others.

He commended the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and leadership of Muslim sects for urging Ghanaian Muslims to strictly adhere to the government’s directive and suspending all congregational prayers.
“The President and government sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the Muslim Leadership to our collective efforts to protect our country and citizens from the deadly threat of COVID-19.

“The decision to suspend services in churches and mosques, was drastic, but a necessary measure to safeguard our health so that we can get back stronger and worship our Lord,” the Vice President said.
Dr Bawumia said the advice to restrict movements under difficult situations was grounded in Islamic principles, noting that, even before the advent of science, Prophet Mohammed advised that in the event of an outbreak of a plague, people should not leave that particular place.