Coronavirus: Pastor who flouted ban on social gatherings granted bail

The Pastor who was arrested in Kumasi for contravening the ban on social gatherings imposed in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in Ghana has been cautioned and granted bail by the Police.

A news release by the Ashanti Regional Police Command said the head pastor of the Open Arms Ministry, Apostle Kofi Nkansah alias "Saint Sark" and two other members of his church were arrested for unlawful assembly.

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The police says it will closely monitor the 62-year-old pastor and his members who were released on bail.

"In pursuance of sections 202 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) the Ashanti Regional Police Command has this morning arrested one Apostle Kofi Nkansah Sarkodie alias "Saint Sark", aged 67, head Pastor of the Open Arms Ministry, North Suntreso a suburb of Kumasi and two other persons claiming to be leaders of the same church, for the unlawful assembly of a group of people for church service in breach of the peace, posing immediate risk to health, life among others, in this era of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic," the release said.

"The suspects have since been cautioned and granted bail. They will also be closely monitored by the Police".

The release reminded all stakeholders of their responsibility to protect themselves and others from the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it would enforce the government's directive for all to suspend religious activities, gatherings or meetings for the next four weeks.

"The command assures the good people of the Ashanti region that, Police will carry out our constitutional mandate to ensure public order and safety and therefore owe it a duty to bring any person(s) who breaches the peace, the law to book".

Background

The government of Ghana suspended all public gatherings in the country following the outbreak of Coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) in Ghana on Saturday, March 14, 2020.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made this known in a televised national address Sunday night [March 15, 2020].

He said the new directives followed an earlier meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus response which he chaired and led to deliberate on the issues.

"I have decided, in the interest of public safety and protection of our population, to review the public gathering advisories earlier announced."

He said among the gatherings suspended were church services, weddings, funerals and other social gatherings.