After pushing the government to open churches, some church leaders have stated that their churches will still not open because they are not ready to ensure the safety of all their members should they go back to service.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Sunday evening eased some of the restrictions which were imposed on the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Some of these restrictions include the opening of churches, restaurants and schools for final year students, all with strict guidelines leaders must ensure adherence to.
Under the guidelines, the churches are to:
- Provide thermometer guns
- No mask no entry.
- Hand washing and sanitizers: regularly sanitize microphones and others.
- Waste disposal bins.
- Toilets with regular cleaning.
- Training and provision of PPE to protocol officers.
- Adequate ventilation ie windows etc.
- Emergency Unit (Designate a room)
- No hugging, no shaking of hands, no spitting policy
- Form Covid-19 Task Force.
- Older people and people with underlying medical conditions should stay away from church for now.
- No group singing, dancing and waving of handkerchiefs.
- Laying on of hands is not allowed.
- Create separate sitting areas for those who are fairly old.
- Practice social distancing – at least one meter or six feet apart.
- Disinfect Chapel before church service and regularly do so.
- There should be an immediate evacuation of any suspected case and call # 112 or 311 to report.
- Put bowl at the entrance for the offertory.
- Adequate information ie notices such as no mask, no entry; wash your hand here; no handwashing no entry etc.
- Isolate suspected cases.
- Inform them they will be handed over to the health authorities.
- Call in the health authorities.
- Sunday schools and Children’s services are to remain closed for now.
Although most pastors, especially that of the charismatic ‘one man’ churches pushed for the agenda of opening churches, some of the pastors have stated that they will not allow their members to go to church.
For some, the number of covid-19 cases in Ghana discourages them to open their church, while for others, the guidelines or rules and regulations under which they have to operate the church is not favourable and so therefore they will not open the church for the service.
The pastors who did not agree with the closure of churches and called for its opening included Founder and General Overseer of Alive Chapel International, Prophet Elisha Salifu Amoako, Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, AKA. Osofo Kyiri Abosom, the Founder and General Overseer of Life Assembly Worship Centre, Prophet Ebenezer Adarkwa Opambour Yiadom, Leader of the Ebenezer Miracle Worship Center, Founder and President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach and an International Evangelist, Dr Lawrence Tetteh.
On the other hand, Some Men of God who agreed to the President’s directive on the closure of churches include the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the leadership of Christian bodies such as the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Methodist Church Ghana, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Assemblies of God Church Ghana, International Central Gospel Church, Action Chapel International.
After easing the restriction on church, the leadership of some churches including the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Led by Mensa Otabil, the Maker’s House Chapel (TMHCI), Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye, General Overseer of Destiny Empowerment Chapel International (DECI), Dr Bernard Taylor, General Overseer of the Spirit Life Revival Ministries Bernard El-Bernard Nelson-Eshun have stated that their churches remain closed.
Ironically, One of the pastors who pushed for the opening of the churches, Osofo Kyiri Abosom, has stated that he will still not open his church for services.
According to him, he has about 900 church members and therefore cannot open the church for only 100 of them and therefore will not open for service.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
