One of Ghana’s popular churches, Maker‘s House Chapel, has told its congregants that the church remains closed, despite the easing of coronavirus restrictions on places of worship.
President Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday, May 31, 2020, announced religious bodies can now start open services and activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It takes effect Friday, June 5, 2020. The maximum duration of service is an hour.
Speaking in a Sunday night televised address to Ghanaians, the president, however, said religious services at the mosques and churches can commence with a maximum number of 100 congregants at a time.
However, in a statement on Monday, the Head Pastor for Makers House Chape, Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye, said they remain closed until the restrictions are eased further due to their numbers.
“Looking at Our Congregation size, Number of services required, Health of the active players in a service, Overhead cost, Pressure on equipment and facility, The logistics to put in place, i.e, writing of names per service and submitting it to the authorities, all the COVID-19 protocols.
“I deem it fit to announce to you that TMH (Destiny Arena) will remain closed for some time until we have clarity and the sanctions relaxed some more. I will entreat all of you to bear the church and its membership in prayer,” he said in a statement.
On March 16, 2020, President Akufo-Addo shut down all educational institutions – universities, second cycle schools and basic schools. All churches and public gatherings including funerals were banned due to the coronavirus disease.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana as of Sunday, May 31, 2020 stand at 8,070, president Akufo-Addo announced.
The recoveries have also increased to 2,947, the president said in his televised address Sunday night.
Per the new figures, 189 new cases have been recorded since the last update and 106 persons have also recovered from the disease.
The death toll stands at 36.
