Ban on public gatherings: It's too early for churches to open - Dr. Boadi Nyamekye

General Overseer of The Maker's House Chapel (TMHCI), Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye, has commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for not yielding to pressures by his colleague Pastors who are calling on him to revoke restrictions on religious activities, so Christians can go back to their various churches.

The President, addressing the nation in his ninth update on COVID-19, extended the ban on public gatherings till 31st May, 2020 which means churches also remain closed till the end of the month.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's announcement has been met with mixed feelings from religious leaders as some men of God in the country have vehemently spoken against the decision.

Some of the Pastors have taken it a step further by threatening the President saying if he doesn't allow churches to operate after the extension period, God will visit his wrath upon the nation.

One of the religious leaders leading the crusade against the President is the Founder of Life Assembly Worship Centre and Presidential candidate for the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews, popularly known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom.

According to Osofo Kyiri Abosom, the rage of God is kindled against the nation because of the closure of churches and if the ban is not lifted, something worse than the Coronavirus pandemic will befall the entire nation in the coming weeks.

But speaking to Presenter and news anchor Akosua Ago Aboagye on Okay FM's 'Abrabo Pa' programme, Dr. Boadi Nyamekye threw his weight behind the President saying ''the truth is we have to think about lives. If it is only the Word of God we want to tell them, we can reach them on the TV, radio and internet. And we should pray that the people stay alive because it is when people are alive that they will come to church. But if they get infected by the disease, there is nothing that we can do''.

Dr. Boadi Nyamekye further had a word of advice for those advocating the opening of churches saying "we need people to be alive to be in church. So, we have to make sure whatever we can do as a people to make sure they're alive and Christian leaders to make sure they're alive and healthy, we do that. I agree with the President. They should wait patiently for things to tone down".

The TMHCI General Overseer disclosed that even when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo lifts the ban on public gatherings, his church will continue to be closed till there is every indication that the disease can be cured.

"Even when they lift the restriction for us to go to church, I still will not conduct church services. I am not yet ready to hold church now at all. No way! Even if they allow churches to open, I have already told my church leadership that I won't do church services and so the members should stay home and watch the sermons on Facebook, YouTube and Television. I will allow our members to come to church when a vaccine or medicine is discovered because I wouldn't want you to come to receive life and go home with death," he said.