Faith-Based Groups in Ghana to Work with State Agencies in Fighting COVID-19 Stigma

In earlier interviews with the ACI Correspondent in Ghana, various health experts cautioned against the victimization of COVID-19 survivors saying such behavior was likely to lead to increased cases of mental illnesses in the country.

The World Health organization (WHO) Situation Report-35 on COVID-19 observes an increasing number of reports of public stigmatization targeting people from areas affected by the pandemic. 

The report indicates that people are being labeled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the pandemic.

Additionally, the religious leaders affirmed that Churches and the Muslim communities had done a lot in supporting their members amid the COVID-19 pandemic but lamented the laxity of the general population in adhering to the safety regulations put in place to combat the spread of the virus.

“People are not adhering to the protocols; they know the COVID-19 exist but they usually forget to observe the safety protocol and this is a big challenge for us and we need the churches to join hands with us to fight this canker,” observed Ms. Annan.

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She added, “Some Ghanaians have the notion that the pandemic is more spiritual than physical, hence do not see the need to observe the safety protocols.”

She blames lack of sensitization about the dangers of the coronavirus on the one-hour duration of public religious services, which she says is not enough to create enough sensitization.

Admitting that it was a challenge to the Commission’s COVID-19 education drive, she pleaded with the Religious Leaders to “give the NCCE some time to speak in churches and Mosques.” 

The NCCE official, however, appeals to Church Leaders and their Muslim counterparts to set aside some time for the civic education commission to carry out COVID-19 sensitization campaigns during religious gatherings.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Zan Samuel Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana commended the organization's Anti-Trafficking Team for undertaking an arduous but splendid operation between June 26 and 28 that rescued three children who were trafficked and held in slavery-like conditions in some fishing communities in the Donkorkrom area in the Afram Plain of the Eastern Region.

“Caritas Ghana's joint Anti-Human Trafficking program contributes to the Catholic Church's abhorrence for these (human trafficking) acts of indignity to the human person. Pope Francis continues to attack trafficking in persons saying that it disfigures the humanity of the victim,” Akologo said.

He added, “We are impressed at the level of support and cooperation from state agencies like the police, Social Welfare Department and local government authorities to undertake this operation that has given freedom and care services to the children. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes of child trafficking, forced labor and enslavement must be brought to justice.”