President Akufo-Addo in his tenth address announced that whiles borders remained

closed, some categories of academic institutions are allowed to resume, religious

places can also reopen with strict conditions and the observance of health protocols.

Social gatherings -weddings, funerals etc. – are to be allowed under certain conditions –
among others with maximum 100 participants. As the 2020 polls loom, even political
activity is allowed to be undertaken.

This article will be focused on tracking case increases and major developments from the
West African country. It will build on our April – May 2020 updates page.

June 2: Minister issues guidelines for churches, mosques

The Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, has expanded
on a government plan for reopening of places of worship across the country.

He was speaking at a multi-sectoral press briefing on Monday, a day after the president
delivered his tenth COVID-19 address to the nation. Some of the key planks of the
directives include:

As part of the guidelines, every church or religious body is to registered with the
Registrar General’s Department and with the respective Municipal, Metropolitan or
District Assembly.

The religious bodies are expected to observe preventive protocols, including providing
thermometer guns or thermal scanners to check the temperature of congregants at
entry points of all venues

Enforce a ‘No mask: No entry’ Policy, provide adequate waste management facilities
and toilet facilities for use by members.

Cleaning and disinfection of frequently used communal places like toilet surfaces and
frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs or handles, preferably every one – two
hours depending on the rate of utilisation.

A holding room or area where a person who becomes sick at the premises can be
isolated from others while making arrangements for evacuation.

Every worshiper must be registered with their details, including names, phone numbers,
manually or digitally, adding that digital registration can be done on GH COVID-19 APP
or the PANABIOS App, which can be downloaded at no cost.

Religious leaders would equally be held liable, adding that the District Assemblies and
other agencies will monitor and ensure compliance with the directives.

Religious activities were thus to begin on Friday, June 5, with Muslims worshiping at the
mosques, and Adventists and Christians following on Saturday Sunday, respectively.

Govt to close down religious institutions who flout anti-Covid-19 directives – GNA report

June 1: 8,070 cases, conditional lifting of most restrictions