Reverse 'no classroom church' directive - Clergy tells AMA

The Concerned Clergy Association has expressed disquiet over the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s decision to stop churches from worshiping in classrooms come August this year.

According to the group, the churches have a symbiotic relationship with their host schools which must be respected.

The AMA has said the continuous use of the classrooms for mid-week and weekend worship has resulted in the destruction of furniture, leading to a disruption in academic activities.

It has threatened to sanction any church found worshiping in any classroom after the expiration of the grace period.

However, speaking on Morning Starr Thursday, spokesperson for the Concerned Clergy Bishop Prince Benny Wood said the directive is surprising.

“It was very surprising to me because I work very closely with the AMA in terms of church location and church activities but I heard this directive only on Wednesday”.

He said it was unfair for the AMA to create the impression that the churches just decide on their own to worship in any classroom they deem fit.

“The AMA is not involved in the agreement between the church and the school authorities. In most of the times, it is between the church and the school authority and once the school authorities allow; the agreement is made.

“The schools benefit from it (agreement), some of them get financial support and in terms of maintaining the schools, the church is involved,” he stated.

But the AMA insists it will carry through with the directive.

The Director of Public Health at the assembly Dr Simpson Anim Boateng told Kafui Dey that the classrooms are meant for learning and nothing else.

“The classrooms are basically for instructional works for pupils and teachers but now if you go around, almost every classroom becomes a church on Saturdays and Sundays and when they start preaching, you can’t stay in your house.

“There is no law backing their operations, and there is no law against their operations and therefore the classrooms must remain classrooms for school children,” he emphasized.