Easing of restrictions: Churches behind new directives - Matthew Opoku Prempeh

Minister for Education Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has said that the rules proposed by the government which ought to be followed by churches after the ban on social gathering was lifted were proposed by various church leaders.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday, May, 31 in a televised address to the nation on measures taken against the Coronavirus pandemic lifted the ban on some social activities but with certain conditions.

“…an abridged format for religious services can commence. Twenty-five percent attendance, with a maximum number of attendances of 100 congregants can worship at a time in a church or at a mosque with a mandatory one-meter rule of social distancing between congregants.” the President stated.

However, some churches still insist that they will continue to conduct their services online as they are not ready to endanger the lives of their congregation.

The founder and leader of the Life Assembly Centre, Rev. Dr. Christian Kwabena Andrews affectionately called Osofo Kyiri Abosom is on record to have said “The claim that only 100 people should be at church at a specific time is uncalled for…I am not ready to open the church so they can come back and claim that Kyiri Abosom has more congregants than the required number,” he told Angel FM.

Responding to the concerns raised by some pastors, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia Constituency wondered why the church will turn its back and complain when all the regulatory measures were coming from them.

"They themselves proposed the various restrictions Kwame. The various church leaders with the President and COVID experts’ team on many occasions on lifting the ban on the church. Are they not the ones who proposed the wearing of the facemasks to church?

“They said they will wear masks; they won't sing and they will place the offertory bowl in front of the. I can state that all the restrictions came from their engagements" Dr. Mathew Opouku Prempeh told Peace FM.