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Tag: Church

  • Agradaa returns to court on Thursday

    Evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, alias Agradaa, is expected to be in court on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

    The founder and leader of Heavenway Champion Ministries International has been charged with two counts of defrauding by false pretences.

    This comes after an Accra Circuit Court on Monday remanded her into custody and ordered that she appear at the adjourned date.

    Agradaa was arrested on Sunday after widespread reports that she had duped some members of her church in an alleged money-doubling scheme.

    According to the victims, they attended her church, and gave out their monies in various amounts after she had advertised to give them multiples of their offerings.

    The charges against Agradaa, who pleaded not guilty at the court’s previous sitting, include charlatanic advertisement.

    According to her, she is innocent of the charges as she never duped anyone, as being alleged.

    Meanwhile, there is divided public opinion over the arrest of Agradaa, who had in the past been hit with similar allegations.

    According to some members of the public, the former fetish priestess has mastered the use of religion to con gullible persons.

    There are, however, those who have accused the victims of being victims of their own greed.

    “It is sheer greed that led people to her. It is just like lotto. It is either a won or a loss for you,” a trader stated in an interview with Oman Channel.

    “This same woman was accused of duping some people in her days as a fetish priestess. Now she is saying God has called but has asked people to bring money to be doubled. I don’t blame her but those who fell for such a ploy. I would rather ask that she is freed and her church closed down because she didn’t force any of them to bring their money to him,” another trader who sells some few metres away from Agradaa’s church said.

    There is, however, a growing call for her prosecution to serve justice to her alleged victims.

  • Take up fight against ‘galamsey’ – Trinity Theological Seminary President urges church leaders

    The President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, The Very Rev. Prof. J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu has charged church leaders to take up the fight against the activities of ‘galamsey’.

    He was speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Christian talk show, A Walk With Jesus, over the weekend, during which he outlined the relationship between humanity, the environment and God.

    He explained that, “When the scriptures mention that God gave humanity dominion over the earth, what it simply means is that God has asked humanity to take care of the environment.”

    When asked why, in Ghana, instead of caring for the environment, the opposite is more common, with ‘galamsey’ being the most prominent example, and all efforts to stop it having failed, he explained that, “The fight against the menace has become difficult because, the people who are involved in it do so as a result of greed, covetousness, and lack of respect for the environment.”

    He went on to state that, “Political leaders on both political divides are to blame, Their campaign promise to voters that, when they come to power, they will help them to do proper ‘galamsey’ is out of place, insisting that, there is nothing like proper ‘galamsey’ anywhere in the world and that politicians should stop singing that song so the fight can be won.”

    His called for the church to step in as a result of God’s expectation of us to be stewards and admonished the church to mainstream the care of the environment through its messages.

     

  • Church graps thief on the loose – Kenyan police says

    Police in the Kenyan capital say they are looking for a church caretaker suspected of stealing 1.5m shillings ($12,400; £11,240) which members had raised to develop the church.

    Police accuse the man of breaking into the ACK All Saints Mountain View church in Kangemi, on the outskirts of Nairobi, and taking the money from a drawer at the altar.

    A church elder and the treasurer were “shocked” when they went in on Monday morning to collect the money, only to find the church ransacked and the money missing, police said.

    In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said their initial investigations pointed to the church caretaker as the main suspect.

    “He is suspected to have tampered with the church’s electric power to disable the installed CCTV system before making away with the congregants’ contributions,” they said.

  • Some pastors want my downfall; It was fundraising I did, not fraud – Nana Agradaa

    The Founder of Heaven Way Church in Accra, Patricia Asiedua formerly known as Nana Agradaa, who has been arrested for allegedly scamming some members of her church, has accused some men of God of plotting her downfall.

    She said her enemies have made all manner of accusations against her which include burying her own child in the church. But she, said, God is on her side.

    Nana Agradaa indicated that she never defrauded anyone.

    “I announced to Ghanaians that I was going to give out cash to members of my church to invest in their businesses and that anyone who needed cash support should come. If you aren’t a church member, the first thing to do in order to benefit from this gesture is to register to officially to join us.

    “I did the all night event and distributed the money to members of my church and so if you only registered that day and couldn’t get a share of the cash, that cannot be fraud, I have not offended you in any way.

    “In every church we have offertory, I am the only one who does this on camera. This was a fundraising exercise which I announced to everyone that it was  starting from 1000 Cedis to Coins,” she said in a recorded video which has gone viral on social media.

    She added “Everybody in Ghana knows that people are plotting my downfall, they want to destroy my ministry , there were demonstrations against me when I was being ordained , people even accused me of burying my own child to grow the church but God is with me.”

    The Police arrested her on Sunday October 9 following allegations of money doubling scam levelled against her by some members of the public.

    She is currently assisting police investigation.

    “Anyone who is a victim of the alleged money doubling scam should report to the Accra Regional Police Command for further action to assist the investigation,” the Police said in a statement on Sunday October 8.

  • I never scam them – Nana Agradaa speaks after her arrest

    Infamous Evangelist Patricia Aseidua known as Nana Agradaa has disclosed that she did not scam her church members as purported.

    Recall that a video came out during the weekend from the church premises of Nana Agradaa where her church members were wailing for allegedly being scammed by Nana Agradaa.

    According to some of the victims who have been scammed by Nana Agradaa, she asked them to bring an amount of money so that she doubles it money for them but apparently, the members who gave out their monies did not get the money doubled, or the refund.

    After her arrest, Nana Agradaa has spoken about the money scam in her church explaining what happened.

     

    According to her, the video making rounds on social media were just people who wanted to see her for counseling. Speaking about the money scam, she disclosed that she organized an all-night service where she promised her church members financial assistance to those who needed help.

    She narrated that during the all-night service, she asked her church members to give an offertory and when they were done with the offertory, some first-time members were hoping to get double the amount they paid as offertory as promised.

    She explained that these first-time comers were made to register before they can be called bonafide church members and those people were not to benefit from the money doubling she promised.

    Nana Agradaa described the incident as unfortunate and a way to tarnish her image. “As long as I am alive, I will continue to serve the living God”, she added.

    Source: www.ghbase.com

  • ‘Nana Agradaa’s ‘sika gari’ scam reflects a broken system – Adib Saani

    Adib Saani, a security and foreign policy analyst has been assessing the impact of Patricia Asiedua a.k.a. Nana Agradaa’s ‘sika gari’ schemes.

    According to him, her successful attempts at deceiving the public is evidence of broken systems which is fueled by the absence of strong security protocols to keep Agradaa’s excesses in check.

    Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on Sunday, Saani explained ‘Nana Agradaa’ and her nefarious activities are very well known to the Police.

    He noted that the Police have consistently left her off the hook, is due to the lapses within the country’s security apparatus and the lawlessness in society.

    “Agradaa’s highfalutin is a result of a broken system. She is a reflection of a semi-lawless society. It is society that created her and it’s only society that can stop her. So I would blame everybody including us for what is going on. The blame shouldn’t be exclusive to the Police nor the victims,” Adib Saani said.

    He continued, “In fact, I don’t blame Agradaa. I don’t blame her much. Because she is only an opportunist who is exploiting loopholes in our norms, values and in our criminal justice system. I blame us also because people’s penchant for overnight riches, greed [and] gullible state of mind is what is accounting for this.”

    “What has the Police done about her in the past? And I dare anyone to go to the Sowutuom Police station and ask for Agradaa’s files, and you’ll be amazed by the number of complaints that have been levelled against her at the Police station. Almost like a weekly ritual. But what has been done about it?” Saani quizzed.

    The security expert added, “And they know her, she knows them. At a point, people even go to the Police station and the Police is even able to anticipate that ‘I know you’re here because of Agradaa’. What has happened to them? Nana Appiah Mensah, Menzgold, is walking a free man but has destroyed many lives. So the system is broken and the only way out is to fix that system.”

    Background

    It was earlier reported that some people showed in their numbers at the church of the ‘confidence trickster’ because the repented priestess had earlier advertised through her television channel, Thunder TV, that she was going to give out monies to people.

    She is also said to have advertised that she would double monies that are brought to her church, Heavenway Champion International Ministry, on the day.

    However, as has been typical of her, particularly from the days when she was a fetish priestess, it seems the evangelist only played on the gullibility of the scores of people who appeared at her church to extort monies from them.

    When she was done, as has been shared in a number of the videos available to the media, she booted them out of the building, aided by her well-built bodyguards.

    A number of the affected people are also heard ranting and calling her out.

    “This is Agradaa’s church, Heavenway, and she advertised on her TV station that she was going to share monies with everyone only for us to get here, and she rather collects monies from people. She told people to bring ten million (GHC10,000) and come for two billion (GHC200,000) after which she asked people to leave the church. Things immediately turned chaotic here,” a lady giving voice commentary in one of the videos said.

    Meanwhile, the Police have arrested Patricia Asiedua, alias ‘Nana Agradaa’ following the allegations of a money-doubling scam levelled against her by some members of the public.

    The suspect is currently assisting the Police with the investigation.

    In a statement issued on October 9, 2022, the Police said, “Anyone who is a victim of the alleged money doubling scam should report to the Accra Regional Police Command for further action and to assist in the investigation”.

    Source: Ghanaweb

     

  • First time in church in 3 years – Davido writes as he attends Sunday service with Chioma

    Nigerian singer Davido has taken to his social media page to share a photo of himself at church.

    In the post, he stated that this would be the first time he attended church in three years.

    The photo he shared had the image of his baby mama, Chioma’s hand.

    Davido captioned it; “First time in church in 3 years … God is good.”

    See the post below:

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Churches urged to include persons with disability in church activities

    The National Co-ordinator of Ministry to Persons with Disabilities(PWDs) at the Church of Pentecost, Overseer Alexander Nyame has urged churches to include Persons With Disability ( PWDs ) in church activities.

    According to Overseer Alexander Nyame, PWDs, need the support of churches hence the aim of the Church of Pentecost is to help persons with disability to draw closer to God even though they are having physical challenges in their lives.

    Speaking to Peace FM Newsat a get together with persons with disability at the Church of Pentecost, Kwashieman Official Town Assembly(KOTA) in Accra, Overseer Alexander Nyame said, persons living with disability need the support of the church therefore the church should not leave such people when they need help.

    Deaconess Diana Oppong Kyeraa Adjei of Sarpeiman Pentecost Church and a retired teacher who led the Church of Pentecost to support 150 Persons with Disability also added that, the vision of the church is to support needy people and share the true gospel with them to help them live godly lives.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Covid-19 taskforce shuts down 4 churches

    Four churches in the Sunyani Municipality were shut down indefinitely for non-compliance with safety protocols and guidelines to stem the spread of Covid-19.

    The Sunyani Municipal COVID-19 Prevention Taskforce ordered the churches to remain closed until they secured separate isolation rooms to attend to emergencies and procure thermometer guns to check body temperatures of worshipers.

    They have also not disinfected their premises.

    Earlier, the leadership of the churches, Victory Temple of New Page Chapel International, Christ Disciples Serving Generation Ministries, Abesim Assemblies of God Church and Harvesters Evangelistic Ministry, pleaded with the taskforce to spare them prosecution.

    Superintendent Haruna Alhassan, the commander of the taskforce, advised the churches to ensure they meet all COVID-19 requirements before opening for services to avoid prosecution.

    He emphasised that government was not against spiritual activities of churches, but the safety of worshippers.

    He said the leadership of the various churches must ensure that worshippers were safe from contracting COVID-19.

    Supt. Alhassan explained the taskforce had intensified patrols to enforce the COVID-19 protocols in the Sunyani and Sunyani West Municipalities because the two municipalities were recording disturbing figures of the viral disease.

     

    Source: GNA 

  • You’re under financial curse if you don’t pay your tithe – Bishop Oyedepo

    Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church has said that those who don’t pay tithe are under a financial curse.

    In a post on his official Twitter handle, Oyedepo stated that “tithing is an inescapable covenant obligation”.

    He added that “Prosperity, not just wealth is impossible without tithing because when you’re not paying your tithe, you’re under a financial curse”.

    This didn’t sit well with OAP Daddy Freeze who reacted by describing Oyedepo’s post as “utter nonsense”.

    He also wondered why the clergyman is not as “prosperous or as wealthy as Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet who don’t tithe”.

    He said, “I personally find this unscriptural statement manipulative and cruel.

    “Christ didn’t collect tithe neither did the disciples, yet no one was cursed!”

    Source: mynigeria.com

  • Five killed in attack on South African church, hostages freed

    Five people were killed in an attack on a church west of Johannesburg in the early hours of Saturday, South African police said, with some of the attackers taking hostages who were later freed.

    Police arrested around 40 people and seized 40 firearms, including rifles, shotguns and handguns, related to the attack on the International Pentecost Holiness Church in Zuurbekom, police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo told the eNCA television station.

    Police earlier posted pictures of some of the confiscated weapons on Twitter, saying they were dealing with a “hostage situation and shooting”.

    One potential motive for the attack is a power struggle at the church between rival factions, local media reported.

    “(E)verything was in complete disarray, so we have arrested all those that we reasonably believe are suspects, we are busy interviewing and interrogating them to establish exactly what the motive was,” Naidoo told eNCA.

    Source: af.reuters.com

  • Disinfection exercise will spur members to come to church — Very Rev Joshua Tawiah

    The disinfection of Methodist Churches in Tamale, in the Northern Region, by Zoomlion Ghana Limited will help allay fears members of the church have about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and encourage them to have the zeal to once again engage in communal worship.

    These were the Methodist Church in Changli, Tamale and Bethel Methodist Cathedral also in Tamale.

    Superintendent Minister of the Tamale Circuit-Synod, who also doubles as the Secretary of the Tamale Diocese, Very Rev Joshua Tawiah, made the observation when Zoomlion carried out a disinfection and dis-infestation exercise in the church last Thursday.

    He said the COVID-19 pandemic had had both positive and negative effects on the church in general.

    In his view, the pandemic had exposed some of the weakness in our activities.

    “For instance, Christianity has been built around communal worship, and during the lockdown you realised that people who had the zeal for communal worship were not happy at that time—they wished that they had come for worship, but the COVID did not allow them to come to church,” he said.

    On the positive impact, Very Rev Tawiah indicated that the pandemic opened their eyes to the use of technology to do virtual worship, using Facebook and other social media platforms.

    According to him, the reason the Methodist Church of Ghana decided to resume worship on Sunday, June 14, 2020, was to allow them space to put in place adequate measures to protect its members against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “…and one of these measures is the disinfection exercise of all Methodist Churches in the country by Zoomlion Ghana Limited,” the man of God intimated.

    Continuing, he disclosed that stewards of his church have been charged with the task of purchasing Veronica buckets and alcohol-based hand sanitisers for use by members.

    To this end, Very Rev Tawiah affirmed that the leadership will ensure that members comply strictly with all the COVID-19 preventive protocols.

    He commended Zoomlion Ghana Limited for the exercise, stating it will help fight the virus.

     

    Source: Abdul Rahman, Contributor

  • No church services should be held in classrooms – GES warns

    No church services will be held in classrooms, Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa has cautioned Christian religious leaders in the country.

    Following President Akufo-Addo’s ease of restrictions on public gatherings, schools across the country have reopened for final year students and churches are permitted to hold religious services.

    The final year students will have a four-hour lecture as they prepare for their final exams.

    As part of measures to protect them against the novel Coronavirus, all schools will regularly be fumigated and nose masks together with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) will be distributed to the students and school administrators.

    There is also a normal practice in Ghana where Pastors turn classrooms into churches after schools are closed.

    The GES Director-General says the Pastors are no more invited to use the classrooms because ”if we allow a lot of people to come close to the school children and something happens, it will be difficult to know how it occurred. In a case where the health Professionals want to do tracing, it will be difficult but if the child comes from school to the home, you’ll be able to do the tracing”.

    ”We won’t allow church services in the classrooms”, he stressed in an interview on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’.

    Watch the interview below:

    Source: Peace FM

  • Owusu Bempah, Prophet Oduro, others rule out ‘1 hour-100 members’ option

    More churches refuse to open up and adopt government’s ‘1 hour-100 members’ directive amidst rising cases of Coronavirus in the country.

    Joining the fray is founder of the Gorious Word Power Ministry International, Rev Isaac Owusu Bempah, and General Overseer of the Alabaster Ministries, Prophet Kofi Oduro.

    President Nana Adoo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as part of his 10th address to the nation on issues relating to the pandemic stated, that some restrictions will be eased.

    This he said, forms part of efforts to help Ghanaians learn practical and safe ways to ‘live with the virus’.

    Following that, many church leaders who had already adopted the online mode of services, have stuck to their guns, maintaining their mode of operation, despite the new directives.

    Rev. Owusu Bempah, who has a large following, has since maintained his services will continue to stream online as the church remains closed to congregants.

    Prophet Kofi Oduro, on his part said, in a statement that “All Alabaster International Ministry churches nationwide and abroad remain closed until further notice.

    “All our services will remain online, on radio and on television. Leadership will in course of time carefully pray and seek the face of God as well as monitor the situation closely and communicate further measures to reopen Alabaster again for congregational worship.”

    Other churches including Solid Rock Chapel International, headed by Rev. Dr. Christy Doh Tetteh; International Central Gospel Church headed by Pastor Mensa Otabil; and Royal House Chapel headed by Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah have also chosen to stick to the virtual online services. Their churches remain closed till further notice.

    Founder of Perez Chapel, Rev. Agyinasare however says all smaller branches of his church will be opened to receive members under strict observance of the president’s directive, while the Headquarters at Dzorwulu remains closed.

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We wont die if we dont go to church, mosque Ghanaians react to easing of restrictions

    Some Ghanaians have expressed mixed reactions to the reopening of places of worship and schools after some two months of closure.

    In a televised address on Sunday, May 31, 2020 President Akufo-Addo announced a phased approach to easing some of the restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus pandemic which includes allowing places of worship to operate with a congregation of not more than hundred in 1 hour and schools to equally open for final year students to take their exit exams.

    But while some Ghanaians are pleased with the directive for schools to reopen for final year students, others are not particularly thrilled, especially with the reopening of places of worship, arguing that the time allotted for services to be conducted is simply not enough.

    There is more in the report below:

    Source: abcnewsgh.com

  • Lydia Alhassan fumigates Ayawaso West Wuogon mosques, churches & schools

    In an attempt to ensure academic and religious life returns to normalcy in Ayawaso West Wuguon, the Member of Parliament for the area, Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan has fumigated schools, mosques and churches in the constituency.

    The exercise which began on Monday, June 1, 2020 forms part of preparations toward the reopening of schools, churches and mosques.

    Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan was optimistic that the fumigation will help fight the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic in her constituency.

    She also urged Ghanaians to adhere to the safety measures of Health officials to curb the spread of the disease.

     

    Source: Peace FM

  • Dont attend church on Sunday Rev Afrifah-Agyekum

    The Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, has asked all Parishes and Quasi-Parishes not to commence church activities on Sunday, June 7 until an official communication is given.

    In a Memo to the Clergy and Religious in the Koforidua Diocese, Bishop Afrifa-Agyekum explained discussions were still ongoing to reach a consensus on the way forward.

    “I wish to inform you that congregational church service are not to commence in any Parish or Quasi-Parish until I officially communicate to you.”

    He added: “In the meantime, we are working hard on some protocols that will guide the diocese”.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Add in his 10th address on Sunday, May 31 announced the easing of restrictions for religious activities to commence from Friday, June 5 for Muslims, first of all.

    Pastors are expected to contain a maximum of 100 persons for Sunday Church Service for a period of one hour.

    Churches are also expected to ensure fumigation and disinfection is done before reopening the churches.

     

    Source: 3 News

  • Driver jailed for stealing church instruments

    A 28-year-old driver, who unlawfully entered a chapel and stole musical instruments, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Nkawie Circuit Court.

    Moro Suleman was said to have entered the Power Life Anointing Ministry Church at Mpatoam in the Amansie West District, and made away with a keyboard, amplifier, mixture, curtains and other items in the Church.

    He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry and stealing and was convicted on his own plea.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Sylvanus Dalmeida, told the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey that, the complainant, Pastor Emmanuel Wiredu, was informed by a church member of the theft on May 28, this year, at about 7:30 am.

    He said an hour later, another person called the complainant and informed him about the arrest of the convict at Nkawie with the items.

    DSP Wiredu said the complainant went to the police station and identified the items as those of the Church.

    Suleman admitted the offence in his caution statement and was therefore, charged and brought before the court.

     

    Source: GNA  

  • Christians in Takoradi divided over reopening of churches

    A cross-section of people in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) of the Western Region have welcomed the decision of the Government to lift the ban on mass gathering permitting a limit of 100 people at a time.

    Those expressing their appreciation are happy that church services can go on within the specific guidelines put in place to limits the spread of the COVID-19.

    It would be recalled that President Nana Akufo-Addo on March 15, ordered the closure of all schools and universities and the suspension of all public gatherings for four weeks as a means to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    A cross-section of the Christians who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview argued that the church was noted to maintain discipline in its services and can best adhere to the social distancing and other protocols.

    According to them, the order to close the churches turned out to be the most difficult one for them to obey as it was having a big impact on them because communal prayer and the discipline of the religious calendar were central to their lives.

    Prophet Godlove Agbemodzi, General Overseer of the Christ Miracle Power Church (CMPC), said when the announcement on the closure was first made, he was surprised, in that it was hard to imagine life without religious services for some.

    He lamented that life had not been easy for the past 10 weeks that he had been in the house without taking offerings.

    Other pastors the GNA spoke to said they have been in great distress since the services were their means of livelihood.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation on 31 May, 2020, to provide an update on COVID-19 pandemic, announced that religious services could commence with service lasting for an hour per session and the congregation should be limited to 100 people at a time.

    However, some people were of the view that looking at the prescribed modalities given them by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to follow, the elite and well-endowed churches could follow, but the smaller ones and those in the villages or peri-urban communities may not be able to bear the cost that comes with it.

    According to the critics, churches in the rural communities before the closure were suffering from low incomes from tithes and offerings, which left some pastors no choice than to run prayer sessions frequently to increase their revenue.

    Madam Mary Agidi said evidence from other nations have proven that large gatherings provided the most fertile grounds for the spread of the virus, and so there was the need to refrain from such gatherings in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

    “Considering the all-night services, the miracle and the anointing services with people falling under the power of the anointing and the modalities to observe social distancing, I will not show up for some time at my church unless the pandemic is curbed,” she stated.

    She, therefore, advised churches to adopt digital platforms for services like payment of tithes and offering through mobile money platforms while those who can afford should offer online streaming services.

    Meanwhile, the leadership of the Fire Glory Church at Tanokrom, a suburb of Takoradi, said they would hold two services on Sunday with the first starting at 7 am to 8.30 am while the second begins at 9 am to 10.30.

    They further indicated that they would be holding a five-day Holy Spirit Revival service from Monday 8 to 12 June 2020.

    Source: GNA

  • COVID-19: Government to trial new app to monitor religious gatherings, others

    The government is set to trial an app to monitor religious gatherings, among others as the coronavirus restrictions are eased.

    The app is expected to keep track of events and details of persons who attend these events.

    At a press briefing on Monday evening, the Minister of Communication Ursula Owusu Ekuful said the app, known as PANABIOS (Pan African BioSurveillance Application) is “to help us stay compliant with all of these [conditions for resuming certain public gatherings].”

    The minister expects the app to ready in 48 hours.

    “We are trialling in Ghana and hopefully it will be rolled out on the rest of the continent,” Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful.

    Providing a few details on how the app would work she said a passcode or a USSD code will be generated for people to book for a registered event.

    “Event organisers will have to download the application and register the event and venue that the event is taking place,” the minister explained.

    Mrs. Ekuful stressed the need to comply with conditions put in place for the resumption of religious gatherings and other events.

    “For our collective peace of mind, every event needs to keep an accurate register of everyone who attends those functions so that when need be, you can provide that information to the health authorities and they can help all of us.”

    President Akufo-Addo announced a review of social gathering protocols in Ghana in a televised address on May 31.

    Religious gatherings, schools, weddings among others can resume partially under strict conditions.

    Churches and mosques, for example, are to allow only 100 congregants while schools are to open for final year students.

    The cap on participants for private burials has also been raised to 100 persons.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Government lays out protocols for churches as they resume services from June 7

    Government has outlined protocols which churches must adhere to as they are given the green light to worship with congregants.

    The Religious Affairs Minister Kofi Dzamesi who announced them at a press conference at the Information Ministry on Monday said persons without face masks should not be allowed entry into the church.

    In addition, all congregants must are to wash hands with soap under running water or rub with alcohol-based hand sanitiser before entry.

    Also, persons with underlining conditions are not permitted to attend church service.

    He said religious bodies are to keep a database of worshippers to assist in contact tracing should a Covid-19 case be recorded.

    According to him, congregants are to avoid shaking hands or body contact, sharing of items like pens and jewellery on church premises should be discouraged.

    Below are the other protocols churches must ensure are observed:

    Mr Dzamesi said until further notice, there will not be crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs in churches.

    I. Thermometer guns or thermal scanners are provided for checking the temperature of congregants at entry points of all venues as necessary.

    II. Ensure a No mask: No entry Policy

    III. Provision of hand washing facilities with running water and soap and/or FDA approved alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

    IV. Provision of adequate waste management facilities (bins, cans, bin-liners and single-use tissues).

    V. Provision of adequate toilet facilities for use by members.

    VI. Regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently used communal places (like toilet surfaces) and frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs/handles, preferably every 1-2 hours depending on the rate of utilization.

    VII. Designate a holding room or area where a person who becomes sick at the premises/event can be isolated from others while making arrangements for evacuation.

    VIII. Regular disinfection of venues used by churches, preferably once every month. For example, fumigation and disinfection must be carried out with recognized entities like Zoomlion.

    IX. Trained cleaners with the necessary personal protective equipment and cleaning items to clean the facilities regularly and handle waste appropriately.

    X. Provide adequate ventilation, i.e. open windows to allow for maximum circulation of fresh air, if possible, avoid confined air-conditioned rooms.

    XI. Display approved health promotion materials on COVID-19 at vantage points to remind congregants to keep to social distancing protocols, wearing of the masks, regular handwashing, coughing, and sneezing etiquette.

    XII. Ensure a No handshake, No hugging and No Spitting policy at all time.

    XIII. Follow established evacuation procedures (as outlined in Annex 1) to enable evacuation if a congregant becomes sick during the event and has to be evacuated.

    XIV. Form COVID task force comprising of members who are preferably health workers. They must be trained in Health Promotive prevention measures, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Evacuation Procedures by Ghana Health Service.

    XV. The COVID task force should Call 112 or 311 for support to enable evacuation if anyone develops fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing during service.

    XVI. Unwell Persons are not allowed to attend church

    XVII. Older persons and people of any age with underlying medical conditions, heart diseases, diabetes, liver disease, and asthma are advised to stay away from church service

    XVIII. Sharing personal items such as watches, jewelry, pens and phones should be discouraged.

    XIX. If an individual is confirmed positive for COVID-19, all contacts must be traced and screened.

    XX. No crowd dancing and waving of handkerchiefs during church services.

    XXI. Sanitize microphones immediately after each use.

    XXII. All who speak/sing in churches (including Pastors, Sunday school teachers, Singers and Announcers) must wear facemask during service.

    XXIII. Discourage singing in groups. Pre-recorded songs or solos should be used.

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

    XXV. Place offering bowls at the entrance and exit points for members to give offerings and tithes when entering or on their way out of church premises. Encourage cash transfers via mobile money or mobile banking as forms of giving offerings.

    XXVI. In observance of social distancing protocols, laying on of hands should not be allowed.

    XXVII. Spend at least 5 minutes of church service time to educate church members on Covid-19.

    XXVIII. Provide separate sitting areas for the aged and for families that are together.

    XXIX. The church is encouraged to mobilize resources to help individuals in need including offering church health facilities.

  • Here are the protocols churches and mosques need to follow in the fight against coronavirus

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has lifted the ban on religious gatherings effective Friday, June 5, 2020, under strict control measures.

    He said churches and mosques have been limited to a maximum of 100 people with services not exceeding one hour with a mandatory one-meter rule of social distancing between congregants.

    According to him, religious leaders must enforce the wearing of facemasks, mandatory hand washing, and provide a register of all attendants for easier contact-tracing.

    In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, May 31, 2020, he said:

    “Religious institutions that are desirous of opening their premises to their members, such as churches, mosques, and others, must disinfect, fumigate and put in place the requisite logistics needed to guarantee safe opening and operation.

    “They must work with the designated, regulatory bodies and undertake test runs of the protocols I have outlined. I would appeal to them, in the case of Christians, on the first Sunday of re-opening, i.e. 7th June, in the case of the Adventists, Saturday, 6th June, and in the case of Muslims, on the first Friday, i.e. Salat Al-Jumu’ah on 5th June, to dedicate their worship to prayers for the nation in these challenging times.”

    He noted that the “Minister for Religious Affairs will outline in detail the specific guidelines for the safe reopening of our churches and mosques” today, Monday, June 1, 2020.

     

    Source: pulse.com.gh

  • ‘Don’t go to church, it’s a trap, you’ll die’ – Malema

    South Africa’s firebrand opposition politician Julius Malema has urged people not to fall for the “trap” of going to church, saying they will die after contracting coronavirus.

    Places of worship are set to reopen from 1 June after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced easing of lockdown restrictions to level three – but only 50 or less people will be allowed inside at any time.

    Mr Malema on Thursday said reopening of churches would expose worshippers to infections and urged religious leaders to keep them closed if they care about the well-being of their people.

    He advised members of his Economic Freedom Fighters party not to attend worship, saying “it’s a set-up”.

    He said restaurants had better hygiene practices but remained closed and so worship places should not reopen.

    Here is part of his speech at a media briefing:

    Source: bbc.com

  • Coronavirus: Church goers have low risk of ‘despair-related’ deaths – Okoe-Boye

    It appears that people who religiously guide their lives stand a better chance of surviving the Coronavirus pandemic.

    Deputy Health Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ledzokuku, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye disclosed on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ that churchgoers have a low risk of death from despair-related diseases.

    According to him, churchgoers who strictly abide by the right teachings abstain from activities that may put their health at risk.

    Dr. Okoe Boye added that the church also provides psychological therapy to people.

    “People who attend church once a week, their risk of death from diseases of despair…there are three conditions; alcohol, drugs and suicide, they refer to it as despair-related deaths”.

    “Those who go to church, their risk from it is lowered by 68% in women and by 33% in men. It means even the church has a role to play when you have a situation where anxiety is rife,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • COVID-19 will vanish from Ghana after Churches are opened Prophet

    The Founder and Leader of the Jesus Deliverance Miracle Church, Prophet Thomas Oppong has said the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease will cease in Ghana after churches are opened.

    The President, Nana Akufo-Addo as part of measures to curtail the spread of the disease in the country placed a ban on all public gatherings including schools and churches.

    The infection rate in the country has since increased to about 4,000 confirmed cases with 22 deaths and over 300 recoveries.

    In an exclusive interview with GhanaNewsPage.Com, the man of God said God has told him to inform the President to open up churches if Ghanaians want the infection rate to cease.

    According to him, God directed him to instruct the President to do the needful so that Christians can return to their places of worship and pray to God to intervene in the situation.

    Prophet Oppong said God in his own wisdom is calling on the President to take such a bold step as part of measures to curtail the spread of the disease.

    The man of God stated that the disease will cease within four weeks after the church is allowed back to worship God.

    Watch his full interview below:

     

    Source:  GhanaNewsPage.Com

  • COVID-19: Christians commemorate Christ’s power over death

    The Christian community across the world is marking the resurrection of Christ Jesus, the distinctive event, underpinning their faith to spend eternity with God.

    The Bible gives many accounts that justify the belief that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, is the only man who continues to live, having been resurrected by God, three days after His crucifixion death to reconcile sinful man with God.

    For instance, the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance. Or you at the first: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas. That is, Peter and then to the Twelve.

    “After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born”.

    Paul also assures faithful Christians of their own resurrection in 1 Corinthians 6:14: “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power”.

    Easter has, therefore, been immemorially marked by Ghanaian worshippers, clad in white attires with joyous early morning services to celebrate the victory of Christ over death and the power of God over Satan.

    “Christ is risen, Alleluia, He is risen, indeed!” become their common greeting and exchange for Easter Sunday.

    The event is also marked with praise and worship concerts and conventions.

    However, with the lockdown measures being implemented by governments across the world and the importance of observing social distancing, Christians are marking the day with family and very small congregations.

    The measures are to limit the spread and the socio-economic disruption of novel coronavirus, which has since the end of December 2019, infected more than 1.7 million people and killed more than 100,000 across the world.

    The clergy are thus using traditional and online platforms to reach Christians with messages of faith, love, hope, victory, resilience and more, to strengthen their commitment to the cause of the Kingdom of God.

    Many pastors have urged the faithful to use the stay home period to honour their fasting, prayer and meditation obligations to draw them closer to God and receive more of His power to impact the world.

    They should also show compassion to the vulnerable and poor as Christ did, bond with their family members and generate new ideas that would make them more productive when the situation normalizes.

    The Chairman of the Christian Council, the Most Reverend Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, has said the change in the nature of delivering liturgies and absence of church congregations do not negate the essence of Easter.

    He explained that Easter and all Christian celebrations were best observed spiritually in the heart, “hence the season does not lose its power without the usual outdoor activities”.

    In a message to mark the Easter festivity, the Most Rev Boafo, reiterated that Easter was all about Jesus Christ “who is risen from the dead”.

    “Easter is a real celebration of the Risen Lord and what makes this season worth celebrating is the fact that Jesus who was declared dead after the crucifixion on Good Friday was raised on the third day,” he explained.

    “Easter is no doubt the high day in the cycle of Christian worship. But it is not the specific day of celebration that brings Christians together but Jesus Christ who gathers us unto Himself”.

    Theologians put the earliest recorded observance of Easter in the 2nd Century, though it is believed it could have been marked much earlier than that.

    Christian churches in the West celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21.

    Therefore, Easter is observed anywhere from March 22 to April 25 every year.

    However, Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to calculate when Easter will occur and typically celebrate the holiday a week or two after the Western churches, which follow the Gregorian calendar.

    Meanwhile, many Christians in Ghana are also using social media to share messages to celebrate the Risen Christ and renew their hope of being reconciled with him in eternal life.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Ho Assemblies of God Church catches fire during Facebook live streaming

    The Central Assemblies of God Church in Ho was Wednesday evening gutted by fire when some youth of the church were streaming a Facebook live service.

    According to eyewitnesses, they saw an air conditioner affixed to the office of the senior pastors on fire a few minutes before 7:00 pm.

    They said they called the Fire Service immediately and after about 15 minutes, the fire fighters arrived with a fire tender but had a tough time battling the blaze.

    Together with the support of some youth of Ho Ahoe, the fire fighters eventually managed to contain the fire until two additional fire tenders arrived.

    A number of offices attached to the church building were damaged by the fire.

    Source: Citinewsroom.com

  • Court convicts pastor for holding church service

    Nkawkaw District Court presided by Albert Kwasi Owusu has convicted a 40-year old Pastor to a fine of 50 penalty units (GH¢600) each on two counts of unlawful assembly and offensive conduct.

    According to GNA, Pastor John Jeremiah Addo of the Kingdom of God Church, pleaded guilty to all two charges and was convicted on his own plea. He would serve 18 months imprisonment in default.

    Police Inspector Emmanuel Ankrah, prosecuting, told the court that on March 22, 2020 in the morning, Nana Mireku Assumeng, sub-chief of Nkawkaw and Kwaku Obeng, a resident, called the Nkawkaw Central Police Station to report that the victim was holding a church service.

    He said both reported that despite the directives issued by the President, they saw the said Pastor performing a church service with a congregation of about fifty people and called on the Police for his arrest.

    The Prosecutor said, a police patrol team proceeded to the church premises and found the Pastor, leading the congregation in a service and arrested him.

    He said upon interrogation, the accused said that he was performing the service because he did not understand why authorities would allow those selling at the market to do so, but prevented church activities.

     

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • More church members test positive in Washington, DC, as hundreds self-quarantine

    Three more people from Christ Church Georgetown in Washington, DC, have tested positive to the coronavirus, according to a letter sent to members.

    A total of five church members have now been infected, including the reverend and the organist.

    Father Timothy Cole “continues to receive good reports from his doctors,” according to the letter. It added that the reverend’s wife and son tested negative for the virus.

    Hundreds of churchgoers are under quarantine. Cole was the first confirmed case in Washington, DC.

    About 550 people attended four services in which Cole took part, and he gave Communion at one of them. These worshippers have been asked to self-quarantine as testing proceeds.

    The 200-year-old church has suspended all services and meetings until further notice.

     

    Source: CNN 

  • Assemblies of God Church urges pastors to pray against coronavirus

    The General Council of the Assemblies of God Church, Ghana has urged pastors to pray against the deadly coronavirus pandemic plaguing the world.

    In a communique signed by the General Superintendent, Paul Frimpong-Manso stressed the need for the pastors to seek the face of the Lord in these times.

    “It is in this light that I want all Ministers to lift up prayer to the Most High God to intervene in our affairs calling on God to open the understanding eye of pastors, health professionals, and scientists, to find a lasting solution to the menace,” Rev. Prof. Frimpong-Manso said.

    Read the full statement below:

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Zambia’s leader blames church officials for mob violence

    Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has said some church officials and traditional leaders are to blame for a recent spate of mob attacks that have left at least 50 people dead.

    The lynchings have targeted people accused of involvement in a series of mysterious assaults with chemical spray that have harmed well over 1,000 Zambians since December and caused public panic.

    The spray has left children and adults unconscious; there’s speculation the assailants seek to use the victims’ blood for witchcraft.

    The attacks were initially confined to the mineral-rich Copperbelt province but have since spread to the capital Lusaka.

    Hundreds have been arrested in connection with the vigilante revenge attacks.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Church warns ‘adulterers’ amid Zambia divorce report

    Churches in Zambia have called on citizens to act to lower the country’s divorce rate.

    Infidelity, drunkenness, gender-based violence, difficulty conceiving, weight gain, and lack of access to marriage counselling were among key factors cited by the more than 20,000 couples who divorced last year.

    More women than men initiated divorce, and the average age of couple was between 25 and 45.

    Other reasons for divorce quoted in a report published by the state-owned Zambia Daily newspaper included the failure of some men to support their families and “the abuse of social media”.

    “Those statistics are disappointing and defeat the biblical principles on marriage which says ‘only death should do us part,’” said Reverend David Masupa, president of the Independent Churches of Zambia.

    Noting the prevalence of couples reporting adultery in their grounds for divorce, Rev Masupa said people needed to be reminded that “adulterers will not inherit the Kingdom of God”.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Lady with curvy backside causes stir in church by twerking during offering

    A beautiful young lady has caused a stir on social media after a video o her unusual dance in church popped up online.

    In the video sighted by YEN.com.gh, the lady could be seen inside a church taking a selfie video while prayers were going.

    Read:Nadia Buari causes stir abroad; white man chases her on the streets

    Praying alongside the other congregants, the lady later positioned her phone to capture her dance moves as the congregation started singing praises thereafter.

    With her back turned, all the camera could capture was her heavy backside which she was shaking like the ones we see in twerking videos on social media.

    Read:Meal or snack: Moesha causes stir with raunchy pictures

    Looking at the video, it was as if the lady had placed the camera in a position to capture her twerking moves.

    Source: yen.com.gh