Ghana releases guidelines for reopening of Churches, Mosques

The Ghanaian government has released the guidelines for the reopening of Churches and Mosques to curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

President Akufo-Addo in his tenth address on Sunday announced that whiles borders remained closed, some categories of academic institutions are allowed to resume, religious places can also reopen with strict conditions and the observance of health protocols.

Social gatherings -weddings, funerals etc. – are to be allowed under certain conditions – among others with a maximum 100 participants. As the 2020 polls loom, even political activity is allowed to be undertaken.

During a press briefing on Monday, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, revealed the following guidelines issued by the government for reopening of places of worship across the country:

• As part of the guidelines, every church or religious body is to registered with the Registrar General’s Department and with the respective Municipal, Metropolitan or District Assembly.



• The religious bodies are expected to observe preventive protocols, including providing thermometer guns or thermal scanners to check the temperature of congregants at entry points of all venues.



• Enforce a ‘No mask: No entry’ Policy, provide adequate waste management facilities and toilet facilities for use by members.



• Cleaning and disinfection of frequently used communal places like toilet surfaces and frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs or handles, preferably every one-two hours depending on the rate of utilisation.



• A holding room or area where a person who becomes sick at the premises can be isolated from others while making arrangements for evacuation.



• Every worshiper must be registered with their details, including names, phone numbers, manually or digitally, adding that digital registration can be done on GH COVID-19 APP or the PANABIOS App, which can be downloaded at no cost.



• Religious leaders would equally be held liable, adding that the District Assemblies and other agencies will monitor and ensure compliance with the directives.

Religious activities were thus to begin on Friday, June 5, with Muslims worshiping at the mosques, and Adventists and Christians following on Saturday Sunday, respectively.

Ghana has recorded a total of 8070 cases of the deadly respiratory illness as at the time of this report.