Muslims engaging on June 5 Jummah Prayers after ban lifting

The Office of the National Chief Imam is deliberating with stakeholders on whether or not to hold the Jummah prayers on June 5, following the President’s lifting of the ban on communal worship with preconditions.

The Ghana Muslim Mission (GMM) is also meeting to over the issue.

Alhaji Khuzaima Osman, the Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said a final decision would be reached later Wednesday or Thursday.

He said the leadership of mosques were, however, free to organise Jummah prayers but they must ensure that they adhered strictly to the safety and hygiene protocols.

Meanwhile, in an interview with a cross-section of Muslims, Mrs Nihad Usuf, staff of Pharmanova, said she would not be going to the mosque this Friday.

"I will wait for at least a month, after which if nothing risky happens I will consider," she said

Mr Fouad Sarpong, a teacher, said he would only go to the mosque after seeing the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases dwindling.

He said he would consider his decision when the number of recorded cases starts dwindling.

Giving the green light for communal worship, the President, among others asked the authorities to provide handwashing facilities, ensure one-metre distance rule among worshippers, who should be in face masks.

A record of worshippers, who should not exceed 100 in any given space, must be kept for each service to make contact tracing easy in case of an incident.

The President urged the worshippers to dedicate the June 5 prayers to national development.

The President announced the COVID-19 containment ban on public gatherings on Sunday, March 15.

Ghana's confirmed cases of COVID-19, now stands at 8,297, with 2,986 recoveries and a death toll of 38.