Coronavirus: Ban on churches by Akufo-Addo ‘useless’ – Prophet Nigel Gaisie

General overseer of the Prophetic Hill Chapel, Prophet Nigel Gaisie has expressed disappointment in the President’s ban on gatherings especially churches as a safety precaution against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Prophet Nigel stressed that in the face of the imminent threat, government needs religious leaders now more than ever since they are the face of interseeding for God’s children.

He noted that instead of closing the churches, they should rather be opened to enable leaders sensitise their congregants on the pandemic and as well pray to end the spread of the virus.

Speaking in an interview with Paul Adom-Otchere on Good Evening Ghana, he pleaded with President Akufo-Addo to review the stance on the directive to enable religious leaders to be at the forefront praying to ensure virus free for the nation.

”Coronavirus is a spiritual illness, everything that happens in the physical is spiritual as well. Nothing happens in the physical devoid of spiritual. Coronavirus is a demon, it comes with fear and anything that constitute fear is of the devil. Reason I was surprise when I heard that activities of churches should be suspended. I regretted a bit.

”Like how Romans 13:1 says we should respect authorities and instructions they give and welcome it, I feel the President could have been more gracious because the answer to coronavirus is not the office of Donald Trump, or the Parliament or the Jubilee House but it’s the church. We have to pray, the bible says if there’s anyone among you who is sick, we should pray. And the answer to coronavirus which is a demonic forces is Prayer so if you say that, one month no one should pray then you’ve given the forces chance to operate.” he said.

”All what I’m communicating is that, same measures which was instigated for the night clubs and pubs to put in place to avoid spreading of the disease, same could have been applied to the churches. The church plays a very important role in issues like this. The church must pray. The day the church stops praying, the world comes to an end.” he added.

The President in a national address on Sunday, following the confirmation of four additional cases of coronavirus, placed a ban on religious gatherings across the country for the next four weeks.

“I have decided in the interest of public safety and the protection of our population to review the public gathering advisories earlier announced as follows. Firstly, all public gatherings including conferences, workshops, funerals, festivals, political rallies, sporting events and religious activities, such as services in churches and mosques, have been suspended for the next four (4) weeks. Private burials are permitted, but with limited numbers, not exceeding twenty-five (25) in attendance,” he noted.

Coronavirus cases in Ghana

Ghana has so far recorded one more case of the Coronavirus after an announcement of the six cases by the Health Ministry last Thursday. This makes a total of seven cases.

The development was announced by Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sarkodie during a press briefing on the current status of the country at the Information Ministry, Sunday, March 15, 2020.