Relaxation of lockdown restriction encouraging – Pentecostal and Charismatic Council

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has described the lifting of the three- week lockdown on Accra, Kumasi, Kasoa and Tema as encouraging.

The council, in a statement Monday, said easing the restrictions was “quite encouraging, especially for many Ghanaians who are in the informal sector of the economy.”

“The Council is, however, appealing to all Ghanaians not to take this relaxation of the lockdown for granted but should to continue to observe strictly the measures rolled out by the government to minimize or stop the spread of the virus,”  the statement read.

Akufo-Addo lifts coronavirus lockdown despite cases exceeding 1000

In his seventh address to update the country on efforts to slow down the spread of the disease, President Akufo-Addo lifted the three-week lockdown imposed on some parts of the country.

“In view of our ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing of infected persons, the enhancement of our capacity to test, the expansion in the numbers of our treatment and isolation centres… I have taken the decision to lift the three (3) week old restriction on movements” the president announced.

Street jubilations, criticism on social media greet lockdown U-turn

The announcement was greeted with mixed reaction as a section of Ghanaians applauded the president for the bold decision, while others criticised him for not caring much about the lives of the people.

Read full statement below:

Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC)

PRESS RELEASE

STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING

UNDER RELAXED LOCKDOWN

April 20, 2020
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council wishes to thank the
President, the entire COVID-19 Response Team and all Health workers
for their untiring efforts in managing the COVID-19 spread so far.

We also wish to congratulate the Laboratory scientists at Noguchi, KCCR
and the Contacts tracing teams for their high level of commitment to duty
even under very limited resources.

The relaxation of the three weeks’ lockdown as announced by the
President yesterday is quite encouraging, especially for many
Ghanaians who are in the informal sector of the economy.

While welcoming this move, the Council is however appealing to all Ghanaians
not to take this relaxation of the lockdown for granted but should to
continue to observe strictly the measures rolled out by government to
minimize or stop the spread of the virus.

As a Council, we are worried that many Ghanaians are not taking these measures meant to protect us, especially the Social Distancing protocols quite serious during the three weeks’ lockdown.

We are particularly concerned about the non-observance of the social
distancing protocols by state institutions and officials assigned the
responsibility for distributing wet food to groups of vulnerable persons in
the lockdown areas of Accra and Kumasi.

If this behaviour of our state officials and institutions who should know better, are disregarding this basic but very important principle of containing the spread of the virus, we are afraid it has the potential to becoming the next most likely mode
of spread of the virus.

We must, however, commend the Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) partnering the government in the distribution of food for adhering strictly to the social distancing protocols by delivering food right at the doorsteps of beneficiaries without calling them out to form long queues.

We are thus calling on government to urgently take steps to change the
mode of distribution of especially wet food to the vulnerable in the defined operational areas if this relaxation of the lockdown just announced by the President is to achieve its intended purpose.

We are also calling on the security agencies and the Metropolitan, Municipal and
District Assemblies to turn their attention to the various markets within
their jurisdiction by ensuring their strict compliance with the social
distancing protocols.

We are by this press statement once again appealing to all Ghanaians to
cooperate with government in these trying moments by adhering to the
washing of hands with soap under running water at all times, use
alcohol-based hand sanitizers regularly, observe hygienic coughing and
sneezing practices using disposable tissue paper and above all practice
social distancing and avoid large social gatherings so as to stop the
spread of the virus.

Let us all be each other’s keeper, let’s keep hope alive and trust in the Lord Almighty, for this too shall pass. God bless our Homeland Ghana and make us great and strong.

Issued on behalf of the National Executive Council by:
Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong- Manso
(President)
Contact:
General Secretary (0242703772/0208232694
President (0208171938/0244026234