The Outbreak of COVID-19 on Ghana and Our State of Preparedness
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council over the last few weeks has been monitoring developments on the outbreak and rapid spread of the COVID-19 globally since its discovery in China late last year. Its emergence in Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast in the last few days and eventually in Ghana on Thursday March 12, 2020, though alarming, calls for calmness, vigilance and absolute responsibility by all Ghanaians to prevent its further spread and minimise deaths and any other negative impact on our socio-economic life.
While commending the President of the Republic and that of the Government for demonstrating that high level of commitment so far, by the recent launch and activation of the EOC on COVID-19 and the release of US$100m to support the coordination of a national response to this pandemic, the Council wishes to call on all Ghanaians as a matter of urgency to take personal and collective responsibility for protecting ourselves against any potential spread of this deadly virus, which has already been declared by the World Health Organisation as a global pandemic.
As we continue to exercise our faith in God through prayer, standing on the Word of God in Psalms 91 and 121, we also believe that knowledge and a better understanding of the disease, including the adoption of practical behavioural and attitudinal changes by all Ghanaians are the surest ways to minimising the potential spread and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak
The good news is that every effort to contain the virus and slow the spread saves many lives, therefore, we must stop, contain, control, delay and reduce the impact of this virus at every opportunity. Every person has the capacity to contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the Church, Mosque, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace or the transport system.
It is in view of these that the Council wishes to lend its support to current national efforts aimed at containing any potential spread of the COVID-19. The Council is therefore rolling out a nationwide sustained Public Prevention Awareness Education (PPAE) on COVID-19 through our network of over 200 member denominations and their over 50,000 branches across the country. While pursuing the PPAE on personal hygiene and protection, we are also urging all local assemblies of our Member Churches to particularly adopt the following suggested practical steps for the time being, to protect their local Congregations from any potential infections:
- Shun all fake news on various social media platforms on possible treatment and prevention and follow strict guidelines as issued by the accredited government agencies responsible for public education on the disease.
- Minimise Church or Congregational practices that encourage body contacts, such as hand-shaking, hugging/embracing, exchange of communion cups, and waving of handkerchiefs.
- Regular disinfection of microphones and door handles before, during and after Church services.
- Placing of sanitizing dispensers or hand washing dispensers at entrances or vantage points including urinals/lavatories within the Church premises and encourage Congregation members to use them before, during and after Church services.
- Provision of protective latex hand gloves for Church ushers or workers handling or counting money, and
- Any other practical steps that the local Church deems fit in support of the preventive approaches being suggested.
The Council in addition to all these measures would also be liaising with the Christian Health Associations of Ghana (CHAG) to explore other support that would be needed by its members, particularly their institutions providing services in remote rural communities along borders with our neighbouring countries.
While we call on all Ghanaians to continue to pray for God’s protection over our land, let us also remember our compatriots in Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and all other countries of the world in prayers.
God bless our Homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.
Issued on behalf of the National Executive Council by:
Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso
(President)
March 13, 2020
