GHANA, Monday, July 27, 2020/ https://africanpostonline.com/— President Akuffo-Addo has announced further ease of restrictions in public places like places of worship, tourist centres and open-air drinking spots.
With effect from August 1, hosting of religious activities has been extended from one to two hours. This decision was arrived at in consultation with church leaders according to the President.
“I have sorely missed going to Church, as I am sure many others have. I am, therefore, very happy to announce that, in consultation with our Church leaders, from 1st August 2020, the restrictions on the number of congregants worshipping at a time in Church will be lifted, with the length of worship extended from one to two hours per service.”
In his address to the nation, the president expressed his deepest appreciation to religious leaders for their strict adherence to the safety protocols that have prevented any documented outbreaks, since they resumed services.
However, all church leaders “desirous of implementing this enhanced easing directive, must ensure that congregants wear face masks at all times, and the one metre social distancing rule is scrupulously applied”. These same guidelines, he said, also applies to “worship in our Mosques”.
He also advised that all worship centres should rely more on “fresh air ventilation of their premises, rather than relying on the use of air conditioners.”
He made these announcements in his 14th address to the nation on the country’s fight against COVID-19. This is the president’s first address to the nation after his 14day self-quarantine upon doctor’s advice following a member of the cabinet, testing positive to the virus.
In an earlier address, he had instructed churches, mosques and other places of worship to take in only 100 worshippers at a time for a period of one hour per service.
But on Sunday evening, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the nation needs to find ways to live with the virus and contain it, while aiming to restore the nation to a new normal hence, the further easing of restrictions on places of worship is part of government’s plans to deepen the sense of normalcy.
Nana Akuffo-Addo also declared that tourist sites across the country will now be permitted to open as the government gradually eases COVID-19 restrictions. He said the tourism destinations, open-air drinking spots can open with improved hygiene protocols being implemented while places such as pubs, nightclubs, and cinemas must remain closed.
Ghana has recorded 32,969 covid-19 cases, 29,494 recoveries and 168 deaths. Ghana is amongst one of the African countries apart from South Africa and Nigeria to have the highest covid-19 cases.
This is the first time the President updated the public after isolating for 14 days after a close associate tested for COVID-19.
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I’m Deborah Aba Narkoah. I’m an avid reader, writer and public speaker.
