Muslims in some
communities of Accra have stated that although praying at home alone during the
month of Ramadan was unpleasant, the President’s directives were also useful as
it will prevent the spread of coronavirus. “Ideally praying as a group during
the month of Ramadan consolidate our gains as Muslims, but under the
circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, we just have to cope with the
situation until it improves, Alhaji Mohammed Aziz said in an interview with the
Ghana News Agency in Accra.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his
eighth television broadcast to the Nation on Sunday evening updated on
government’s efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus in Ghana.
He said among other things that in a
consultation meeting with the Council of State and other key stakeholders.“I
have, accordingly, by Executive Instrument, extended for another two (2) weeks
the suspension of all public and social gatherings, as set out in E.I 64 of
15th March, 2020, effective tomorrow, 1am, Monday, 27th April,”.
The President also appealed to Muslims to stay
home during the Ramadan period to do what he described as “analogical
deduction,” as the breaking of the Ramadan fast is an intensely social activity
in Muslim communities.
He also issued a directive of mandatory wearing
of face masks at all public places, adding, “We should all familiarise
ourselves with them, and apply them, as the Regional Coordinating Councils of
the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central Regions are demanding of their
residents.”
A GNA visit to Accra Newtown, Nima and Maamobi
revealed that most of the Muslims were not too happy , praying at home alone in
the month of Ramadan, but were quick to add that the President’s directive was
reactive to the current situation that Ghanaians found themselves.
Alhaji Aziz pleaded with the President to relax
the ban on religious activities in the last 10 days of the Ramadan for Muslims
to pray for Allah’s mercy on the nation and the citizens as those days were
regarded as the month of mercy, forgiveness and transformation in the Holy
Quran.
Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana acknowledged that the
decision by President Akufo-Addo to rid the virus of Ghana was appreciable and
called for more measures to curb the virus and not only banning and appealed to
the President to review the ban on religious activities.
Hajia Failatu Iddi said single women in Muslim
communities were affected by the directive as they prayed alone in their
various homes.
Source: Ghana News Agency