Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Cynthia Mamle Morrison has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth GH¢25,000 to the Swedru Council of Churches to enable them to follow the COVID-19 protocols while church services resumed.
The items were 25 veronica buckets with stands, 100 boxes of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, 100 bottles of liquid soap, 100 packs of tissue papers, 25 thermometer guns, 25 hand washing bowls, 3,000 hand gloves, and 2,000 nose masks.
As part of measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19, some restrictions were outlined by President Akufo-Addo and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) among which was the ban on social and religious activities.
Mrs Morrison said the easing of the restrictions imposed by the President on social gatherings, funerals, Pubs, and others was to prevent overcrowding and safeguard the health of Ghanaians.
The Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Agona West urged the churches to disinfect their premises as it was one of the conditions for easing the restrictions.
She cautioned pastors and Church leaders to ensure that the health and social distancing protocols were observed.
She said, “three people have tested positive for the COVID-19 in Agona West and urged residents to heed to social distancing, wearing of nose masks and use of hand sanitizers as a means to contain the virus.”
According to the Minister, the COVID-19 pandemic had devastated global economies including Ghana, and assured that the government was working around the clock to reverse the economy to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians.
Reverend Christian Essandoh, Chairman of Swedru branch of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Councils on behalf of the churches thanked the Minister for the kind gesture.
Rev Essandoh who is also the Central Regional Superintendent of Assemblies of God Church urged all the churches to disinfect their premises before church services resumed.
The Very Reverend Prince Sackey, Synod Secretary of Winneba Diocese of Methodist Church said the pastors and church leaders have taken a serious view of the pandemic, hence, enough preparations were being made before services resumed.
He said the Churches appreciated the efforts made by the government since the outbreak of the Pandemic three months ago and the huge resources pumped into it to ensure the safety of Ghanaians.
Rev Sackey reiterated calls on all Churches to abide by the protocols to help win the fight against the disease.
