The Religious Affairs Minister, Kofi Dzamesi, has directed churches to desist from crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs during church services.

This directive comes after the President of the Republic of Ghana mentioned that effective Friday, June 5, the process of easing restrictions will start with church and mosque activities.

The President while delivering the 10th COVID-19 update address said regulatory agencies will undertake random checks to ensure full compliance of this directive.

He said churches can hold one hour for each service with not more than 100 participants at a time.

“As I stated in my May Day address, I’m now in a position to outline the roadmap for easing safely the restrictions. Ours is going to be a fazed approach involving a selective list of public gatherings based on the risk profile, socio-economic effect and most importantly, our capacity to enforce, respond and prevent a flare-up in cases. With effect from Friday, 5th June, we will begin stage one of the process of easing restrictions”.

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

Speaking as a press briefing to give detailed guidelines on the government of Ghana’s guidelines for churches to re-open, Kofi Dzamesi said Churches who would begin services from 5th June 2020 should ensure the regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently used communal places (like toilet surfaces) and frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs/handles, preferably every 1-2 hours depending on the rate of utilization.

Meanwhile, some Churches have released statements suggesting that, although the President has asked them to begin services with strict measures, they will continue to hold virtual services until an appropriate time.