Akufo-Addo instructed us to write guidelines to mitigate impact of coronavirus - GPCC

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has revealed that the guidelines the Christian community submitted to government on how to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 was developed at the behest of President Akufo-Addo after a closed-door meeting.

GPCC has therefore rejected claims that faith-based organizations are clandestinely influencing the government to lift the ban on public gathering to pave way for church activities to resume.

General Secretary of GPCC, Rev. Emmanuel Teimah Barrigah, made the disclosure on Onua FM “Yensempa” morning show hosted by Nana Yaw Opare (a.k.a Wofa).

He, therefore, urged the general public to treat such claims with contempt.

Rev. Barrigah further appealed to the public to cease disparaging, ridiculing and accusing men of God based on that false claims.

He maintained that faith-based organizations have no power to order the president to lift the ban at a time that Ghana’s COVID-19 case count is rapidly shooting up.

“President Akufo-Addo met the faith-based organizations and after a thorough and productive deliberations demanded for document or guidelines which would help assuage impact of the coronavirus and as well equip churches to adhere to protocols should the ban be lifted”.

He added, “So we worked on that documentation and presented it to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs should there be any arrangement and consideration to lift the ban on public gathering.”

The Reverend Minister was optimistic no amount of pressure by individual or groups would influence President Akufo-Addo to lift the ban to endanger lives.

Commenting on government’s stimulus package to cushion small and medium-scale businesses, Rev. Barrigah appealed to the government to include the churches since they also employ quite a number of people.

Admittedly, he said some men of God solely depend on proceeds from the church but there are others who are investing in education, health and other sectors hence the need for government to consider his call.