Closed doors, low turnout, cautious optimism mark church services

Closed doors, low turnout, cautious optimism were what characterised the first day of congregational services by churches over the weekend, after almost three months of inactivity.

Congregational church services having been banned since March 16, 2020 as part of efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Christians hoped to resume services in their various places of worship with a bang, but that was not to be.

The expectation was whittled down following the directives on the easing of restrictions by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who said churches were to admit only 100 people for a service, which must last an hour.

Congregants were also to adhere to all protocols pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eased restrictions

In his 10th address to the nation on Ghana’s COVID-19 situation on May 31,2020, the President had announced the first phase of the easing of restrictions, which allowed religious, social, public and political gatherings for 100 people at a time for an hour.

All churches must also provide facilities for handwashing and hand sanitiser dispensers, while handshaking or body contact would not be allowed, neither would crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs during church services be permitted.

All congregants would also be required to wear nose masks.

In addition, places of worship must register all people who attend service and also build contact data that would allow for tracing of attendees, as well as have a room to serve as a holding area for people who fall sick.

 Closed doors

However, many of the well-known charismatic churches, such as the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), the Royal House Chapel, the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), the Victory Bible Church and the Perez Chapel, have all chosen to keep their doors closed and rather stick to services online.

The orthodox churches, including the Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and the Methodist Church, Ghana have, however, outlined comprehensive plans to enable their branches hold worship services from June 14, 2020.

Some individual charismatic and pentecostal churches, meanwhile, opened their doors to their members for congregational worship.

Observations

The Daily Graphic team went round town and observed that, in most areas, there was no traffic, indicating that majority of people did not go to church.

Some churches provided the prescribed protocols and also set up registration desks at the entrance of their premises, where ushers took details of attendees, as well as checked their body temperature.

Most of the churches also had ‘No mask, no entry’ signs at their entrances.

In the auditoriums of some churches, attendees were not up to 100, while chairs were placed about two metres apart to allow for physical distancing.

In line with the one-hour-duration requirement, a number of the churches held multiple services, with 30-minute breaks to allow people to exit.

Some of the orthodox churches which had indicated that they would resume services from June 14, 2020 remained closed, like many of the charismatic churches which had said they would continue to conduct virtual or online services until it was safe to return to congregational meetings and services.

Views

The Resident Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church International and Area Head of the Community Four Assembly, Rev. Emmanuel Kaatey, encouraged Christians to have faith and attend church services.

He said just as they braved the odds to visit markets, banks and their offices, they should also be confident to attend church services.

Members of the Church of Pentecost met in groups, ranging between five and 15, in the homes of selected members or their cell groups for service, reports Emelia Ennin Abbey from the Anyah Ablekuma Area in Accra.

A guideline, signed by the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye, directed that the various branches of the church could be opened for service on or after June 19, 2020, after steps had been taken to meet the protocols.

From Sunyani, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Biiya Mukusah Ali report that the Bono Regional Minister, Mrs Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, joined the leadership of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church last Saturday for an hour’s prayer service.

An early morning downpour within the Sunyani municipality on Sunday, however, prevented some Christian denominations from organising church services as envisaged.

The Calvary Charismatic Centre (CCC) at Ayigya in the Asokore-Mampong municipality in the Ashanti Region numbered all the seats and spaced them in its auditorium, reports Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor from Kumasi.

Besides that, the church allowed an hour’s interval between one service and the other, with the first service starting at 7 a.m.

From other parts of Kumasi, Daniel Kenu reports that a number of the churches headquartered in Accra did not allow their local assemblies to open for worship.

From the Royal House Chapel, ICGC to Victory Bible Church, none of their local assemblies operated on Sunday.

From Sakumono, Della Russel Ocloo reports that  the Calvary Temple of the ICGC located at Sakumono in the Greater Accra Region remained closed for in-person worship, despite the easing of restrictions.

The Head Pastor, Rev. Anthony Cudjoe, in a communique to members, said all facilities at the church remained closed until further notice.

In Cape Coast, some Christians said they would not be attending church service until it was completely safe to do so, reports Shirley Asiedu-Addo.

Mr Alex Kofi Wofesor a member of the St John the Baptist Catholic Church, said: "I would want to be at home until I am convinced it is safe to go to church. I can pray in my house.”

Majority of churches in the Twin-City of Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and other parts of the Western Region did not open for the usual Sunday church services, reports Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu from Takoradi.

The few which opened largely had empty auditoriums.

From Ho in the Volta Region, Bright Selase Afavi reports that the Church of Christ Gateway at Sokode-Lokoe, a suburb of Ho, was in worship mood when the Daily Graphic visited, while most churches remained closed.

From Tamale, Samuel Duodu reports that  the OLA Cathedral of the Tamale Archdiocese of the Catholic Church reopened for congregational worship.

Mrs Esther Konadu, a Bible reader and usher at the church, said those who took part in yesterday's Mass had to register online and their names printed out and checked before they entered the auditorium .

Some pentecostal and charismatic churches which do not have large congregations also opened for church services in a quiet and solemn manner.

Vincent Amenuveve reports from Bolgatanga that while some residents defied an early morning rainfall in the municipality to attend short church services, other churches remained closed.

At the Redemption Centre of the Assemblies of God Church and the Fountain Gate Chapel, for instance, small numbers of people congregated.