Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, has on Thursday led some renowned clergies in the country for a special intercessory prayers to seek the face of God in the midst of the novel coronavirus outbreak in country.
“These are not ordinary times,” Nana Akufo-Addo told the clergy at the Jubilee House where the prayer session was held.
With a predominantly Christian population, the President underscored the need for the people to seek the face of God “for healing and restoration” as the country records two more new cases of the virus to bring to nine the total confirmed cases in Ghana.
“I humbly called you [the clergy] to this prayer meeting for us to join together and pray to almighty God to protect our nation, healing this land and save us from this pandemic,” he stated.
Specific prayer topics against the spread of the virus in Ghana, for frontline health workers in the fight against the virus, for government and the President, the victims of the virus and suspected victims, were assigned each of the clergy to lead in the prayers.
Nana Akufo-Addo grounded his decision to hold the prayer session on the biblical quotation in James 5:14 which admonish the sick to call on the elders of the church to pray over and anoint them.
“I’m confident that this morning’s prayer which will be offered in faith will, help heal our nation and will help raise Ghana up.
“I believe profoundly that we the Ghanaian people, with our faith in the almighty, will overcome this challenge, this too will pass,” he stated.
Precautionary measures
President Akufo-Addo said while seeking the face of God, government was working physically to combat the spread of the pandemic which is putting strain on health facilities even in most advanced nations in Europe, America and Asia.
He said it was in line with that that he announced on March 15, a raft of measures including the banning of social gatherings for the next four weeks, closure of schools, and restrictions of travels into the country by noncitizens from hard-hit nations.
“Prior to announcing this decision [which included the banning of church services], I informed many of you around this table of the impending decision…including those I could not inform because of the exigency of time,” he indicated.
With the exception the arrest of a pastor at North Suntreso in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, the president said he was happy that “these measures have been adhered to” by the churches.
“So on behalf of government and the people of Ghana, I want to put on record my deep appreciation to you and the entire Christian community across the country for this gesture of solidarity,” he told the clergy.
In similar manner, he commended the support offered by the Muslim clergy led by the chief Imam as well as political leaders, traditional authorities and opinion leaders for their support in stemming the spread of the virus.
He expressed the hope that Christians, Muslism and all others find ways to collaborate with the State for the good of Ghana and “improved welfare of the people”
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana