A health policy planning and financing specialist, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has waded into the alleged breach of COVID-19 safety protocols at a recent event organised by the Airport City branch of the Christ Embassy Youth church in Accra.
The church has received widespread condemnation after videos went viral on social media of the programme dubbed “Pneumatica Night” held at the Fantasy Dome where the COVID-19 safety protocols were allegedly flouted.
The former Minister of Communications, who could not fathom the total disregard of the safety protocols at the event, advised Ghanaians to take issues relating to their health seriously.
“I still cannot believe the event in the photos took place in Ghana over the past few days in the name of God. What don’t people do in the name of God?”
According to Dr. Omane Boamah, people are still dying as a result of the virus and the public needs to stay safe.
“50% of COVID-19 patients who get to the ICU are dying. Covid-19 admissions and deaths now are still scary. Stay safe…Trust yourself, only! Not the Pastor. Not the Politician. And save yourself and your family from COVID-19,” he wrote on Facebook.
The videos showed a mostly unmasked crowd, screaming, chanting, and dancing to the “evangelism” of their similarly unmasked leaders.
Meanwhile, the police have locked up the Fantasy Dome where the event was held.
The Ghana Police Service, in a statement, said they are investigating the event which was organised “at the blind side of the police.”
“Police have since Sunday morning locked up the Fantasy Dome and have started questioning leaders of the Church and Management of the Fantasy Dome about the event.”
The police in the statement announced that “any person found culpable will be arrested and duly prosecuted.”
Below is the full post from Dr. Omane Boamah:
Dear friends,
I still cannot believe the event in the photos took place in Ghana over the past few days in the name of God. What don’t people do in the name of God?
50% of COVID-19 patients who get to the ICU are dying. Covid-19 admissions and deaths now are still scary. Stay safe!
And do not be fooled that political campaigns in 2020 saw more crowds. That was also wrong and reckless: The very reasons based on which I criticised the Director General of Ghana Health Service and the Minister for Information when they downplayed the effect of the campaigns on COVID-19 infections.
Trust yourself, only! Not the Pastor. Not the Politician. And save yourself and your family from COVID-19.
Thanks.
