The Zoomlion disinfecting gang
An appeal for the disinfection of the Abossey Okai Central Mosque which was made by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, during the virtual Eid prayers at GBC has attracted a response from Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
The foremost waste management company which has been embarking on a countrywide disinfection against Covid-19 on Friday deployed its disinfection gangs to undertake the exercise at the Abossey Okai mosque in Accra.
The exercise, which formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility, was informed by the cleric’s request that mosques be disinfected ahead of a possible easing of the current restrictions in the country.
The exercise began at exactly 7:20 a.m., with Zoomlion personnel sweeping the entire compound and the mosque and collecting the refuse into a skip truck for disposal. This was followed by the disinfection exercise which lasted for about four hours.
Facilities which were disinfected included the mosque, its compound, various offices, ablution bay, among others.
The Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Arimiyao Shaibu, who was there to observe the exercise, commended the swiftness with which Zoomlion responded to the request.
“We are grateful to Zoomlion for quickly taking the initiative following the appeal we made during the virtual Eid-ul-Fitr celebration this year,” he said.
According to him, because they had no idea when the restrictions were going to be eased, the Office of the National Chief Imam deemed it needful to seek the central government’s support for Islamic facilities across the country to be disinfected.
He was optimistic that the disinfection of the national mosque would send a signal to the central government to heed their request for Islamic facilities to be disinfected.
He said when the nationwide disinfection exercise comes into fruition, it would trickle down to the regional, district, community and neighbourhood mosques.
“In fact, the larger Moslem community will be educated to partake in this exercise by assisting Zoomlion in the general cleaning of the surroundings of the mosques,” he said.
However, Imam Sheikh Shaibu indicated that their appeal could be broadened where a national programme would be in place to include Christian worship centres.
While asking for government’s support in these unprecedented times, he admonished the public to play their part in ensuring that the battle against Covid-19 is won and used the opportunity to speak against the stigmatization of persons who have contracted Covid-19.
On measures outlined by the Moslem community in the event that the Covid-19 restrictions were eased, Imam Sheikh Arimiyao Shaibu disclosed that every mosque in the country would have a Covid-19 committee whose objective would be to ensure that the safety protocols are strictly adhered to.
“The ablution bay is open to everybody. That cannot continue under Covid-19, and so we will ensure that everyone comes with his own water can and also encourage members to come with their own prayer rugs,” he stressed.
He indicated that the Moslem community would have no problem if the Covid-19 restrictions were eased but gave an assurance that they would play their part to help contain the spread of the virus.
By A.R. Gomda