Bishop Dr. Charles Abban
Ghanaians have been advised not to ignore the safety protocols needed to combat Covid-19 just because the infection rate appears to have subsided in the country.
So soon, a greater number of Ghanaians appear not to be taking the protocols seriously as the use of face masks, regular washing of hands with soap under running water and the social distancing rule have been abandoned.
Bishop Dr. Charles Abban, Founder and President of the International Clergy Association (ICA), who gave the advice, said the public should not belittle the impact of the coronavirus and stressed the need for all stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the issue.
He said any attempt to downplay the impact of the virus could erode the successes chalked up by Ghana in the fight against the virus.
Bishop Dr. Abban was speaking at the launch in Accra recently of his new book on coronavirus titled ‘Demystifying Coronavirus Plague’.
The book, which gives a political religious and scientific insight into Covid-19, is expected to be a study document to all sections of society.
The 188-page book details the ‘bolts and nuts’ of the Covid-19 pandemic and why certain key stakeholders needed to come together and work in unity to help curb the spread.
The book was foreworded by Prof Abraham Kwabena Anang, Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana.
Bishop Abban said he was inspired to write the book to serve as an educational, informational, awareness and inspirational research material which could be studied, as well as help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
“I want the public, research and other organisations to have this information, study it and see what women are doing in the fight against Covid-19,” he stated.
Bishop Abban said the book also emphasises the need for political leaders, religious leaders, scientific and research people, as well as health workers to continue educating the masses on the virus to help overcome it in Ghana.
The President of Maranatha University College, Prof. Rev. Samuel Deegbe, who reviewed the book, described it as timely and purposeful for the world and the church, considering topics for its seven chapters which include the types of coronavirus in the world; what the Bible says about Covid-19; the church and Covid-19; understanding the times we are living in now; the writer’s vision on Covid-19; women as frontliners in the fight against Covid-19; and the role of gender-inclusive leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The second part of the book focuses on what really the Bible says about this Covid-19 by using scriptures. It also reveals why this virus is not God’s judgment unto man,” Prof. Deegbe said.
He further stated that the book addresses the issue of how the church can survive in the coronavirus period by employing certain key strategies.
“The fourth part also talks about how we can understand this challenging times we are in and why as Christians, understanding the times we are in is so crucial to our walk with God,” he added.
Copies of the book can be obtained from the Rock Hospital and the Miracle Rock Church International, all in Accra, as well as other major bookshops.