Opinion: Effective Today, Christians & Muslims Hourly Per 100 Congregants Begin, Is It Practicable?

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The president of the republic of Ghana, in his 10th update of the nation eased the restrictions on the religious bodies such that they can go back to churches and mosques to worship but with directives.

The president noted that the nation is in challenging times and therefore the need to follow some protocols before during and after each service in other not to be baits for spreading the novel coronavirus pandemic also known as Covid-19.

The president, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo made it known that re-opening of churches and mosques that not make it compulsory for all churches to go back to worship but those who are willing to go must before Friday 5th June 2020 satisfy some standards. “Religious institutions that are desirous of opening their premises to their members, such as churches, mosques and others, must disinfect, fumigate and put in place the requisite logistics needed to guarantee safe opening and operation. They must work with the designated, regulatory bodies and undertake test runs of the protocols I have outlined.” – The president said.

The requisite logistics to guarantee safety as outlined by the president include; the wearing of face masks, providing alcohol base hand sanitisers, Provision of Veronica buckets, liquid soaps, disposable paper towels, and dust bins etc.

“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 metre rule of social distancing between congregants. In addition to the mandatory wearing of masks for all persons at all times in churches and mosques, a register of names and contact details of all worshippers and hand washing facilities and sanitisers must be provided, with a maximum duration of one (1) hour for each service.”

Is this practicable? Some churches have made releases that their premises remain closed until further notice while other claim they are using the one week to prepare the logistics and reopen by next week. Mean while some muslim groups have revealed that for them, the pray based on time and can therefore not practice the suggested hourly service.

Share your thoughts now!

By: Nana Gyasi | Radio 1 | Ghana