Executive Director of Alliance for Christian Advocacy, Africa, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, has chided political leaders for not setting good examples for Ghanaians with regards to adherence to COVID protocols in the country.

According to him, political leaders must set a positive precedent for the general public to follow suit.

Commenting on the Ghana Health Service proposition that end-of-year church services should be held either online or in open spaces, as part of measures to curtail the spread of the virus during the Christmas festivities, Rev Dr Opuni-Frimpong explained that when it comes to matters of morality and ethics, the church and people of faith must always set higher standards. As such, even if somebody wouldn’t want to do the right thing, the church must give an example.

“But I must say that our political leaders have not given us good example in terms of COVID activities. The things they have said again and again, they have not practiced them, especially when they are attending their political party’s member funeral. What we have witnessed, they don’t relate with the kind of admonition we have heard again and again and it’s very worrying. Moving forward, if our political leaders will show [and] demonstrate best example of the things they are telling us, we will be very encouraged to do more”.
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong

The Executive director of Alliance for Christian Advocacy intimated that regardless of the seeming negligence on the part of political leaders, the church cannot hide behind the mistakes other people are making. Rev Opuni-Frimpong emphasized that COVID is real as some countries such as China with “excellent science and medicine” are struggling.

“So, if open air activities will help church members, why not? I pray and hope that nobody should come to church [and] go home with COVID. The church should be a safer place”.
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong

Mandatory vaccination program

Touching on mandatory vaccination, Rev Dr Opuni-Frimpong elaborated on the need for more education on the importance of getting vaccinated, particularly for those who are opposed to the idea. He noted that it is imperative for the vaccines not to be imposed on people.

“Now there are people who are resisting vaccine… Let us accept the vaccine. When we were not having vaccine, church people were praying. I have been to prayer meetings where we were praying that God gives us intervention. Now, we have the vaccine and people are also going round that we should not take the vaccine”.
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong

Rev Dr Opuni-Frimpong expressed that he is not very comfortable with the approach on mandatory vaccination. According to him, he has seen a video from the country’s airport where they were forcing injection on somebody, a move he reckoned unfair.

“Over the years we have been having injection without forcing anybody. Why should we force vaccine on people all because of COVID? Let us do education more, let us encourage people to accept. Here, faith leaders, we can play a role and our political leaders must show good example. Because there are people who don’t believe COVID is real because of some of the things we have seen from our leaders when they attend political party activities and funerals”.
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong

Rev Dr Opuni-Frimpong urged Ghanaians to take the vaccines “willingly” and without being compelled, further emphasizing on the need for persons not to be forced with the mandatory vaccination drive to be implemented by government.