The Minister of Religious Affairs, Hon. Kofi Dzamezi has outlined protocols that needs to be observed at the various Churches across the country following President Akufo-Addo’s review measures he has adopted to ease the ban on social gatherings which were imposed as part of measures to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 in Ghana.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his tenth address to the nation revealed that an abridged format for religious services has now been instituted.
He said “Twenty-five per cent (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 metre rule of social distancing between congregants.”
In clarifying the statement, the Minister of Religious Affairs at the Ministry of Information press briefing on Monday [May 1] stated that, Churches across the Country must not engage in crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs.
He continued that pre-packaged communion products and offering bowls (containers) must be made available at the entrance of Churches during service and the Churches must discourage group dancing, shouting, sharing of pens or items, and also disinfect microphones immediately after use by an individual.
He reiterated President Akufo-Addo’s call for the Churches to strictly observe the social distancing protocol, compulsory wearing of nose masks at all times and provide Veronica buckets and hand Sanitizers at vantage points to halt the spread of the virus.
Hon. Kofi Dzamezi warned that individuals, Churches and institutions that fail to comply with the directives will be appropriately dealt with and have their outfits being closed down.
He instructed that Churches should register with the Registrar General to aid easy tracing and also monitoring.
