His Royal Majesty, Ndan Ya Naa Abukari Mahama II has directed with immediate effect the suspension of all social gathering in the Dagbon traditional kingdom in the northern region. In a statement issued by the Gbewa Palace on Wednesday, 18 March, 2020, the Dagbon King stated this decision was necessary after consultations with the Dagbon Traditional Council and other key stakeholders such as the clergy.
This directive affects the performance of some ongoing funerals in the area and the Friday’s Muslim congregations across the various mosques in the region.
The Ya Naa commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for demonstrating leadership in this trying time as Ghana records some imported cases of the viral disease. He noted the strengthening of health communication and information systems and the contribution of the nation’s media, led by a strong political will, have all helped to realize the national objective of an informed population.
However, the Dagbon Overlord urged the people of Dagbon and Ghanaians as a whole to support government and adhere to the relevant safety mechanisms to control the rate of infection of the COVID-19 in the country.
“The responsibility of ensuring a controlled COVID-19 infection rate is the duty of all Ghanaians and people living in the country. While Social Media has lots of information, Ghanaians should seek information on COVID-19 from authorized and trusted sources only” the statement added.
“The experience of South Korea where a religious congregational activity was key factor in the Asian country’s loss of control of the COVID-19 infection rates should be instructive to us. This is not the time to invoke Constitutional rights as we are not in normal times” the communiqué emphasized.
Ghana has so far recorded seven confirmed cases of the deadly virus and about 381 contact persons are being traced in the country by health professionals in the country.
