Catholic Bishops in Ghana Urge Prudence as Government Lifts COVID-19 Restrictions

Priests have also been asked to “encourage those who have not been vaccinated to do so.”

GCBC members add that “first aid or COVID-19 medical personnel put in place during the pandemic should still be active.”

“In view of the ongoing slowdown of the pandemic,” Catholic Bishops in Ghana say, “We do not intend to offer any further guidelines for the Holy Week celebrations.” 

In their April 4 statement, GCBC members offer directives for the celebration of Holy Week, beginning Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday.

“Priests are encouraged to use the options given in the Roman Missal for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday,” Catholic Bishops in Ghana say. 

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They also ask for the maintenance of the “reception of Holy Communion in the hand.”

“Where a parishioner wants Holy Communion on the tongue, this should not be refused but done to avoid touching the tongue,” they say. 

In their April 4 collective statement, GCBC members also call on Ghanaians to pray for peace in the Kusasi-Mamprusi region following the resurgence of the Bawku conflict.

The Catholic Church leaders also urge Ghanaians to pray for an end to the Boko Haram insurgency and loss of lives in Nigeria, the Ukraine-Russia violence, and for an end to hunger and suffering in Somalia and other places experiencing similar challenges.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.