- "While the authorities investigate this matter, we call on the government to immediately stop any further meetings and apply the law on COVID-19 protocols to the organisers of this event to the fullest extent possible."
Pressure group, OccupyGhana, is pushing for the prosecution of leaders of the Christ Embassy Church for totally disregarding COVID-19 protocols at an event organised by its youth wing.
The police say they have picked up a number of leaders of the church and officials of the Fantasy Dome at the Trade Fair Centre at La in the capital, Accra.
This follows a video that has gone viral on social media in which members of the youth wing of the church at East Legon, the Airport City Church in Accra were seen dancing and shouting at a programme held last Friday night with total disregard for social distancing and minimal wearing of masks at the Dome which has a capacity of 15,000.
“We are questioning a number of people including leaders of the Christ Embassy Church and the people who let out the place for this particular event. The investigation will settle the matter as to who organised the event and who sanctioned it,” Abayie-Buckman told Asaase News’s Beatrice Adu on Sunday.
Reacting to the news, OccupyGhana said: “The government must answer to Ghanaians whether or not this event was held on its blind side, and if so, how that was possible? Was the police present at the event, and if so, why? Were government officials invited and were they present? Were the venue owners present, and did they take any steps to prevent or stop this?”
It added: “While the authorities investigate this matter, we call on the government to immediately stop any further meetings and apply the law on COVID-19 protocols to the organisers of this event to the fullest extent possible.”
Below is OccupyGhana’s full statement:
OCCUPYGHANA® PRESS STATEMENT
OCCUPYGHANA® CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL COVID-19 SUPER-SPREADER RELIGIOUS EVENT
OccupyGhana® has watched with shock, a video on YouTube (now pulled down) of a religious event held in Accra from Friday, 30 April 2021, dubbed ‘Pneumatica Night 2021,’ and organised by the Christ Embassy Youth Church, Airport City, which event packed thousands of adherents into the air-conditioned tent called Fantasy Dome, with minimal mask wearing and absolutely no social distancing.
We are not opposed to the holding of religious events. But we need no reminders that the dangerous and murderous COVID-19 is still present and active with us. That is why the government has imposed protocols by law, which demand compliance, even by churches; and our local churches have largely been exemplar in this regard. On the contrary, we are seeing the colossal human disaster that is unfolding in India, caused largely by unrestrained political activities and religious events that did not respect COVID-19 protocols.
That is why we are shocked that the authorities could either actively or negligently allow this event to be held in Accra, especially by a religious organisation whose leader actively denies the virus and preaches against the protocols.
The government must answer to Ghanaians whether or not this event was held on its blind side, and if so, how that was possible? Was the police present at the event, and if so, why? Were government officials invited and were they present? Were the venue owners present, and did they take any steps to prevent or stop this?
While the authorities investigate this matter, we call on the government to immediately stop any further meetings and apply the law on COVID-19 protocols to the organisers of this event to the fullest extent possible.
The key lesson from covid is this: If you pile thousands of people together, maskless, COVID spreads! We all should have learnt that by now! Even more, studies have shown that air-conditioners may help spread the virus.
We hope that the authorities have learned the painful lesson on how the ‘kids-glove’ treatment of Aisha Huang all but killed the fight against Galamsey, that the way the government treats such a flagrant breach of our laws will tell Ghanaians how serious we are about this fight.
Still in the service of God and Country
OccupyGhana®
Below is the full police statement:
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