COVID-19: Modalities For Church Services To Be Out Soon - Christian Council
The Christian Council of Ghana has stated that the Council will come out this week with modalities for the churches hoping to resume services this week.
According to them, the modalities and guidelines will ensure and help the churches to organize service in a more safe and hygienic manner to minimize or prevent the spread of COVID-19 during services.
Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Chairman of the Council, Rev. Dr Paul K. Boafo explained that they welcome the President’s decision and call on the churches to observe the safety protocols as restrictions are eased for them to worship.
"We welcome the President’s decision to ease the COVID-19 restrictions to enable churches to have services, however, just as it is temporal and in phases, we will observe the necessary protocols to have normal services until the restrictions are lifted completely," he said.
The Christian Council will in the meantime come out with modalities for the church owners and leaders to follow to enable them have services, perhaps as many as they want on a Sunday.
He appealed to the churches and the other religious institutions to observe and follow the necessary protocols and guidelines spelt out by the President for the COVID-19 fight even as restrictions are eased.
Easing restrictions
In his 10th national broadcast on measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 on Sunday night, President Akufo-Addo, therefore, said effective Friday, June 5, Muslims could worship at the mosques, while Adventists followed suit on Saturday, June 6, with Christians who held services on Sundays, following on June 7.
"So, fellow Ghanaians, with effect from Friday, 5th June, we will begin Stage One of the process of easing restrictions. An abridged format for religious services can commence. Twenty-five percent (25%) attendance, with a maximum number of one hundred (100) congregants, can worship at a time in church or at the mosque, with a mandatory one-meter rule."
The religious institutions are required to keep a register of names and contact details of all worshippers, amid frequent hand washing and the use of sanitizers.
Prior to the re-opening of churches and mosques, they must disinfect and fumigate their premises and put in place appropriate logistics to guarantee the safety of their members.
The President said the decision to ease the restrictions was based on a consensus that emerged from stakeholder consultations to ensure a strategic, controlled, progressive, and safe easing of restrictions to get lives and economy back to normal.
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