AFRICA/GHANA - Coronavirus: "Respect the guidelines of the government"; the invitation of the Bishops to the faithful

Tuesday, 17 March 2020 local churches coronavirus bishops

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Accra (Agenzia Fides) - The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, Msgr. Rev Philip Naameh, in a statement released by the conference on Monday, March 16, 2020, advised Catholics and Christians in Ghana to abide by the dictates from the government and put all public spiritual programmes such as retreats, devotions, meetings, confessions, pilgrimages among others be postponed for the next four weeks.
To date, March 17, Ghana has recorded 6 imported cases from coronavirus causing fears among many in the Country.
The statement by the conference urged all to obey the dictates of the the government which calls on all Public Masses be suspended for the next four weeks, all Public Spiritual Programmes such as retreats, devotions, meetings, Confessions, pilgrimages etc. be suspended for the next four weeks, all Catholic Schools be closed until further notice as directed, all funerals and weddings should be suspended for the next four weeks and that burials may be performed but with not more than 25 people in attendance.
Bishops also recommend the following:
1. Daily private Masses should be offered for God’s intervention with not more than five people in attendance.
2. Churches and adoration chapels are opened for private prayers by parishioners, paying attention to observe the required distance of two meters and to pray in silence.
3. That where possible, live streaming of Masses should be encouraged to enable the faithful receive spiritual Communion .
4. We exhort all Catholics and people of faith to intensify individual and family prayers and encourage all to read the daily Mass readings and reflections provided on several social media platforms.
"In addition to the above recommendations, we urge all Ghanaians to keep observing the basic precautionary measures that will help minimize the spread of the virus as well as protect oneself from being infected with Covid-19", concludes the Bishops' message. (L.M) (A.A) (Agenzia Fides, 17/3/2020)