“These are not ordinary times, eminent clergy, and in such times the country, whose population is predominantly Christian, must seek the face of one true God for healing and restoration.

So I humbly called you for this prayer meeting for us to join together to pray to the Almighty God to heal this land and save us from this pandemic,” President

Akufo-Addo said during a prayer meeting with some leading members of the Christian community at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday morning.
He said the government was putting in place all the necessary measures to deal with the pandemic.

Quoting Scripture from 2 Chronicle 7:14, which says: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray and seek my face, turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and I will forget their sin and heal their land,” the President expressed confidence in the fact that prayer offered in faith would help heal the nation and raise it up.

President Akufo-Addo, who quoted copiously from the Holy Scripture regarding God’s promise in such times, said: “I believe profoundly that we the Ghanaian people, with our faith in the Almighty, will overcome this challenge. This too will pass.”

Protocol

As part of the standard protocol at the Jubilee House, all the clergymen and women were made to wash their hands with soap under running water, their body temperatures were taken after which they used sanitisers.

They also sat at least two metres apart and were encouraged not to shake hands.

Prayers

Prayers were said for the government, victims of the disease, affected persons and the President.

There were also prayers for the nation, the world, frontline health workers and also against the COVID-19.

The rest were the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Eastwood Anaba Ministries, Rev. Eastwood Anaba; the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Professor J. O. Y. Mante, and the Catholic Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie.

Other ministers of the Gospel and the leadership of the church in Ghana present were the Founder and Presiding Archbishop of the United Denominations Originating from the
Lighthouse Group of Churches (formerly Lighthouse Chapel International), Archbishop Dag Heward-Mills; the Parish Priest of the Christ the King Catholic Church, Rev. Fr Andrew Campbell, and Mrs Gifty Affenyi-Dadzie, the Director of Prayers at Aglow International.

President Akufo-Addo said as a devout Christian, he knew of the healing power and saving grace of the Maker of heaven and earth, and “the Saviour Jesus Christ, because in Him
we live, move and have our being, and Proverbs 9:10 of the Holy Scripture, which states: ‘Those who are called by your name trust in you for you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you’”.

“We are putting in practice the words of the Holy Scripture in James 5:14 and 15: ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well, the Lord will raise them up’,” he added.

Steps

The President noted that the government was ensuring that all people at the points of entry were screened, suspected people refused entry, designated quarantine and isolated centres for holding suspected cases had been established, while there is suspension of all public gatherings, including nightclubs.

He reiterated the fact that all schools should remain closed till further notice and travel advisories issued and urged all Ghanaians to adhere to the prescribed social distancing protocols.

Cases

President Akufo-Addo said with nine confirmed cases, Ghanaians might call themselves one of the least hit by the virus, but the rapid spread of the disease across the world had forced the country to institute a number of measures to ensure that Ghana was adequately prepared to combat the spread of the pandemic on its shores.

He recounted his first national broadcast on March 11, this year and the second last Sunday, when he announced a raft of measures which, unfortunately, included the suspension of public gatherings, which included church services, to confront the issue.

“Prior to the announcement, I had informed many of you around the table of the impending decision and I was encouraged by the words of support offered,” he said.

He added that the announcement of the measures had been received with overwhelming support from all and sundry, including those he could not inform because of the exigencies of the time.

He said with the exception of one incident in North Suntreso in Kumasi last Wednesday, “these measures have been adhered to”.

Commendation

President Akufo-Addo expressed the appreciation of the people and the government to the clergy and the Christian community for the gesture of solidarity and further expressed the hope that the state and the Church would continue to find a way to collaborate for the good of Mother Ghana.

He also saluted the Muslim clergy, led by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu, the nation’s political leaders, traditional authorities and other opinion leaders for supporting the measures announced by the government.