Accra, 27 March, 2020 / 7:15 am (ACI Africa).
Christians and Muslims in the West African nation of Ghana observed a day of prayer and fasting Wednesday, March 25 using a ten-point prayer guide that detailed specific prayers against the spread of COVID-19.
Among the key highlights of the prayer guide was a call for thanksgiving, protection, and forgiveness of sins that have been committed by Ghanaians and the rest of the world that is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the latter prompting repentance.
“Fasting is a period of humbling ourselves before God and asking for His divine favor at all times, especially the times of crises. The kind of fasting that the Lord approves is to approach Him with a repentant heart,” read part of the prayer guide that was prepared by the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs that links Ghana’s government with the country’s traditional authorities.
The government’s prayer instruction also noted that fasting was a call for national prayer and repentance since, “If a nation is in trouble, a prayerful and repentant response by Christians and other God-fearing people is always appropriate.”
The prayer guide further read, “We also need to confess our sins of any injustice against one another. Come out of any cruel act against others, stop any act of known sin. Then follow this with acts of justice, charity and kindness.”