The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly’s decision to charge Church’s fumigation certificate fee has angered some Pastors within the Municipality.
The fee fixed from Ghc150 and above depending on the size of the Temple fumigated will be charged per Temple.
This implies that Churches with many branches would have to pay more for the certificate.
Some Churches argue that, despite hiring professional companies like Zoomlion for the exercise, the Assembly is still demanding payment of certification fee per each Temple.
This decision has angered some Pastors in the Municipality arguing that the Assembly’s decision would worsen their financial burdens given that they have a tall list of logistical requirements to meet in compliance with the President’s directive.
But according to the Municipal Environmental Officer, Emmanuel Tetteh, the fees are to validate the exercise to ensure that Churches Comply with the fumigation directive.
President Akufo-Addo in easing restrictions on religious activities last week said “Religious institutions that are desirous of opening their premises to their members, such as churches, mosques, and others, must disinfect, fumigate and put in place the requisite logistics needed to guarantee safe opening and operation. They must work with the designated, regulatory bodies and undertake test runs of the protocols I have outlined. I would appeal to them, in the case of Christians, on the first Sunday of re-opening, i.e. 7th June, in the case of the Adventists, Saturday, 6th June, and in the case of Muslims, on the first Friday, i.e. Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah on 5th June, to dedicate their worship to prayers for the nation in these challenging times. The Minister for Religious Affairs, will, tomorrow, Monday, 1st June, outline, in detail, the specific guidelines for the safe reopening of our churches and mosques.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
