Religious Affairs Minister Has No Power To Close Down Churches-Lawyer Anyenini

Lawyer Sampson Lardy Anyenini has played down threats by Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs Minister, Kofi Dzamesi, that churches which violate the Government’s strict protocols announced to govern the reopening of mosques and churches, would be closed down.

According to the respected lawyer and media practitioner, Mr. Dzamesi’s claims were just a puff of hot air as he is not clothed with any power to close down churches or mosques.

“You read out the Minister saying that  a church could be closed down, that one we can say without any equivocation that the Minister does not have any power whatsoever to make such claims and I think that the media would want to avoid giving currency to that words of excitement by the Minister.

“Parliament passed a law and that law prescribes the sanctions for disobeying or violating restrictions placed by an EI through the President,” Mr. Anyenini said.

Following President Akufo-Addo’s easement of the Covid-19 restrictions and institution of rather strange protocols, the Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs Minister has been warning of serious consequences for churches who do not adhere.

According to Kofi Dzamesi, “the church or mosque or other religious organization in violation could be closed down, the leaders in church will equally be held liable. The district assemblies and monitoring teams are at hand to ensure compliance with the directives.”

Explaining the restrictions, which includes limitation of the number of people who can be in a space for worship, Mr. Dzamesi said among other things that churches should package communion wine and bread like snacks and leave them at entranceway into churches.

The praise and worship sessions are also to be held like zombie funerals. ““No crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs during church services. Sanitize microphones immediately after use, all who speak and sing in churches, including pastors, Sunday school teachers, singers and announcers must wear face masks during service. Discourage singing groups, pre recorded songs or solos should be used.

“Pre-packaged communion bread and wine should be picked up by members at the point of entry.”

Kofi Dzamesi also directed churches to use mobile banking and mobile money platforms for the collection of offertory or better still, leave offering containers outside of church auditoriums.

Second Vice Chairman of the National Association of Charismatic Churches, Rev. Victor Osei, has called the directives by Mr. Dzamesi, “an abomination.”

However, the Religious Affairs Minister has warned that churches who do not go by the directives will be sanctioned severely.

“The church or mosque or other religious organization that violates the laid down protocols will be dealt with according to law.”

Christian Council Cannot Enforce Protocols Directed In Covid-19 Restrictions Easement

The Christian Council of Ghana is not in position to enforce protocols that the Government has prescribed to guide the conduct of church activities following the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions.

General Secretary, Rev. Cyril Fayoose today told Accra based Joy FM that the Council has no regulatory powers to enforce the rather cantankerous protocols prescribed by the government, that among others asks churches to package communion like snacks.

“The things we are going to do are to educate our members and member churches to educate their members on how to adhere to them,” he said.

Beyond that, he said, all that the Council could do is pray that the churches will find their way own way of adapting.

“But enforcement is beyond the Christian Council to do at this point,” he said.

Following President Akufo-Addo’s easement of the Covid-19 restrictions and institution of rather strange protocols, the Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs Minister has been warning of serious consequences for churches who do not adhere.

According to Kofi Dzamesi, “the church or mosque or other religious organization in violation could be closed down, the leaders in church will equally be held liable. The district assemblies and monitoring teams are at hand to ensure compliance with the directives.”

Explaining the restrictions, which includes limitation of the number of people who can be in a space for worship, Mr. Dzamesi said among other things that churches should package communion wine and bread like snacks and leave them at entranceway into churches.

The praise and worship sessions are also to be held like zombie funerals. ““No crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs during church services. Sanitize microphones immediately after use, all who speak and sing in churches, including pastors, Sunday school teachers, singers and announcers must wear face masks during service. Discourage singing groups, pre recorded songs or solos should be used.

“Pre-packaged communion bread and wine should be picked up by members at the point of entry.”

Kofi Dzamesi also directed churches to use mobile banking and mobile money platforms for the collection of offertory or better still, leave offering containers outside of church auditoriums.

He warned that, “The church or mosque or other religious organization that violates the laid down protocols will be dealt with according to law.”

Rev Cyril Fayoose said the Christian Council, which is the Council Governing churches in Ghana does not have the power to force the various churches to adhere and that what they can do is to institute some sort of peer review mechanism.

“We are going to encourage peer review encouraging colleagues to visit other member churches to see whether they are adhering to those regulations and encourage them too but apart from that it would be extremely difficult to police these guidelines.”

“The only protection that they can provide for member churches as they prepare to reopen is to continue to encourage that member churches to protect themselves by adhering to the guidelines.

“That is the best protection we can give them. If you follow them strictly you should be fine,” he said.