No Friday prayers in major mosques - Chief Imam announces

National Chief Imam, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, in consultation with the leadership of the various Muslim communities in Ghana, has approved key guidelines for Muslim worship in mosques.

The guidelines are in response to government’s new protocols for the partial easing of the coronavirus restrictions on public gathering and a ban on religious activities.

In a press release signed by Chairman of the National Chief Imam Advisory Board, Alhaji Mammmah Gado Mohammed, and copied to GhanaWeb, the Muslim community has been directed to urgently form COVID-19 taskforces at all the levels of the masjid (mosque) administrations – that is regional, district, community, neighbourhood and institutional mosques.

For Friday prayers or the Jumu’a Salat, the statement said in view of the high risk of losing control of huge congregational sizes, pursuant to the directive of the president limiting the number of worshipers to 100, Jumu’a Salat in major mosques, particularly in urban areas, should be discouraged until further notice.

“Where applicable Jumu’a prayers should be held at minor/lower masjids (mosques) concurrently in all communities with high Muslim concentration, with the number of worshippers not exceeding 100.

Also, Jumu'a Prayers at institutional masjids (mosques) such as the police, military and others where there is sufficient control, may be observed.

Read the full guidelines in the attachment below.