The Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu says her ministry, in collaboration with other stakeholders, have developed an application (app) to monitor compliance to Akufo-Addo’s directives as churches are given the green light to reopen.

At a press briefing on Monday, the Minister said the Pan African Bio Surveillance app will monitor and regulate the number of persons at an event at any given time.

“Event organizers would have to download the application and register the event and the venue that the event is taking place. For venues which hold multiple events, they can number it so people can download the app and pre-book.

“If the first event is oversubscribed, it will automatically move you to the next one and send you a notification that you are attending the second or third service on this third Sunday of the month so you can also plan,” Mrs Owusu-Ekuful explained.

She added that large churches that already have known attendees and registers, can use their own processes but provide the information when required by the Ghana Health Service.

Following months of closure, religious bodies, including churches and mosques have been given the greenlight to reopen.

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

“Twenty-five percent (25%) attendance, with a maximum number of one hundred (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.

The introduction of the Pan African Bio Surviellance app is part of the many measures being taken by government to gradually ease the country from the Covid-19 restrictions.

The Communication Minister stressed the need for all event venues to keep an accurate register of every person who attends those functions so that when need be, they can be provided.

She said the app will be ready in three days.