The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has commenced the process of collating data of all places of worship within its jurisdiction.

A statement signed by Gilbert Nii Ankrah, Head of Public Affairs for AMA said the data will identify the number of churches and mosques within the metropolis and capture details of the number of members, location, contact persons, among others.

The exercise will enable the Assembly to prepare itself to enforce the guidelines and assist in conducting contact-tracing should there be any confirmed Covid-19 case within any church or place of worship.

The move comes after President Akufo-Addo relaxed the social distancing restrictions put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country.

In his 10th address to the nation since the outbreak if the disease in the country, President Akufo-Addo said an abridged format for religious services can commence.

“Twenty-five per cent attendance, with a maximum number of 100 congregants, can worship at a time in church or at the mosque, with a mandatory one-metre rule of social distancing between congregants. 

“In addition to the mandatory wearing of masks for all persons at all times in churches and mosques, a register of names and contact details of all worshippers and hand washing facilities and sanitisers must be provided, with a maximum duration of one hour for each service,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

To ensure proper monitoring, an app to monitor events will be introduced and this would require a data of churches and mosques in the country, a reason the AMA is embarking on the exercise.

According to the AMA Environmental Health Officers, and Social Welfare Officers and Building Inspectors from the Assembly, would be visiting communities to collect data on all places of worship so as to locate them and reach out.

“The AMA is therefore urging all religious leaders to accord its officers the needed cooperation to ensure a successful exercise,” it added.