As part of efforts to contain spread of the COVID-19, Zoomlion Ghana Limited on Thursday (June 06) disinfected nine mosques in various parts of Accra.
They included the Madina Central Mosque; Shia Mosque, Madina; Al-Aziz Central Mosque, Burma Camp; Ahlul-bait Institute Central Mosque; Alhamadiya Mosque; and the Military Barracks Central Mosque.
The rest were Anlu Sunnah Mosque and Kardo Mosque – both in Nima, and the Police Mosque, Cantonments.
The exercise followed an appeal by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, for the disinfection of all Islamic facilities, including mosques, across the country.
It was partly government-sponsored through the Ministry of Zongo and Inner-City Development, and also formed part of Zoomlion Ghana Limited’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).
One significant observation running throughout the exercise was that all the mosques which were disinfected had set up COVID-19 Committees as directed by central government.
That, according to the various Imams who spoke to a cross-section of journalists, was to show how ready and prepared they are to observe Friday (June 05) prayers (Jum’ah).
At the Madina Central Mosque, the Madina Chief, Baba Amadu Seidu, expressed the Moslem community’s appreciation to both government and Zoomlion for the gesture.
He said adequate preparations have gone into Friday Jum’ah, following government’s partial easing of the COVID-19 restrictions.
“We are a law-abiding people and so we will comply with all the directives and COVID-19 preventive protocols outlined by the president,” he assured.
He went on to stress that the Madina Central Mosque has also put in place the necessary measures to make sure the 100 Moslems who come to worship observe all the COVID-19 safety protocols.
According to him, the Moslem community in Madina and its environs have had several meetings with their chiefs and Imams in an effort to ensure the safety of members during worship.
However, there were some reservations by the Alhamadiya Muslim Mission regarding the restriction to 100 people who are allowed to congregate for worship.
According to the deputy Ameer II, Alhamadiya Muslim Mission, Alhaji Wahab Issah, limiting the number of Moslems who can congregate and worship is not helpful.
“We can’t pray with just 100 people; therefore, we have asked our members to stay at home,” he pointed out.
He also used the opportunity to commend Zoomlion and government for the exercise, and called on all Moslems to support the country’s fight against the coronavirus.
