GHANA OBSERVES NATIONAL DAY FOR FASTING AND PRAYER
The world, over the last few months, has been battling with a pandemic known as ‘the Novel Corona Virus (Covid-19); which initially started in the People’s Republic of China. The world has now seen a surge in infections in over one hundred and ninety four countries across the globe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the novel corona virus remains an existential threat to human survival as it is not only highly infectious but also deadly if not contained properly. What even makes the picture of this pandemic more scary is that scientists across the globe have in their unwavering efforts to discover a vaccine has since proven futile, and the only global remedy subscribe now for all persons of the world is to practice hand hygiene and social distancing protocols to contain the further spread of the virus.
As of 25th of March, 2020, the globally estimated figures of infections stood at 434, 854 with 19, 606 deaths recorded in over 194 countries. The escalating effects of this corona virus pandemic has seen the globally economic superpowers crumble and scramble for solutions to end this virus, and the normal living routine of billions of people has also been greatly affected. Ghana, as a nation of this world, has not been an exception to the corona virus infection with a case count now at sixty eight with two deaths; which has got many of the citizenry alarmed about a possible spillover of the numbers in the impending weeks considering the country’s weak healthcare systems and the country’sfinancing difficulties to cope with the exigencies of the time. Suffice to say that Ghana has adopted over the last few weeks stringent measures and protocols to avert a massive outbreak of the virus in the country with intensified public education, distribution of detergents, hand sanitizers, fumigation and disinfection exercises, closure of our air, water and land borders, and the provision of an emergency fund of one hundred United States dollars to fight this pandemic. Also, the roll of the social distancing protocols has seen the restrictions of persons across the country with the closure of schools, rationing of staff in offices to reduce human interactions, and the mandatory quarantining of persons on board flights from endemic jurisdictions and other nations. Per the current Covid -19 figures in Ghana, Greater Accra and Ashanti regions appear to be the epicenter of the virus in the country, with a section of the public calling for a partial or total lockdown of these cities for a period of two weeks to contain the virus and prevent a possible spread to other regions.
As the world eagerly awaits a remedy to this puzzle which has engulfed the globe, with a solution not yet in sight. Ghana, though a secular state, has an overwhelming proportion of its population being members of various religious sects with a belief in aSupreme Being (God), today has been set aside by the His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as a ‘ National Day for Fasting and Prayer’. This day, according to the President is help the nation seek the face of God to save our nation from this pandemic and to heal the globe of this deadly virus. Such a proclamation has been received with a groundswell support by the citizenry and, its observance by various religious sects in the country. The KwesimintsimObserver.com throng the streets of the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality to find out what residents think about the day and how they are observing it as such.
One of the residents imitated that “the outbreak of this pandemic in the world shows the inadequacy of man, as a scientists have failed to deliver a vaccine to stop this plaque from engulfing the globe. It indeed shows us thatthe affairs of men are in the hands of the Supreme one who is God, and our supplications through prayers and fasting can see God heal the world of this pandemic. As our cries go up to him, I am confidently he would deliver our land Ghana as he delivered the Israelites from the land of Egypt. And so, I entreated every Ghanaian to take this day serious and observe it as such.
Another indigene of the community asserted that ‘thatour help come from the lord who made the heavens and of the earth, and everything of this world belongs to him.So the emergence of this virus can largely be stopped when we bow, show reverence to God, and cry to him to save his children from this deadly ailment, which threatens our very existence and survival. The President’s bold decision to declare a day like this as a day for prayers and fasting is not only refreshing but gratifying, as increasing levels of panic and fear has created paranoia among many for which the almighty God remains our only respite now to restore in us confidence and hope”
As the nation continue with its observance of the ‘National Day for Prayers and Fasting’ as declared by the President, it is our hope here at the Kwesimintsimobserver.com that God who is the master architect of this universe deliver our land from this ever-present danger and the world at large. And may our humble cries and supplications alert him to deliver the world from this plaque. And may we all as citizens’ take solace in Isaiah 40: 31 that ‘but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’.
