The President of the Republic will speak to the nation at 10pm tonight, 31 May 2020.
It is widely anticipated that today’s address will lead to a revision of the regulations governing ways in which people socialise and assemble in public places.
Under the present arrangements, no more than 25 people can gather at one single public venue to take part in an event. The stringent rules have produced drastic changes to the way people mark social milestones, from outdoorings and burials to political rallies and derby matches.
Church leaders have joined the rising demand for easing the limitations on how people gather. Speaking on the Accra-based Citi FM, Emmanuel Teima Barrigah, general secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, argued in favour of gradually lifting of the restrictions on socialising and religious observances such as mosque prayers and church services.
Changes to rules on socialising
President Akufo-Addo has dropped strong hints of an imminent change to the rules.
In his last address to Ghanaians, on 10 May, Akufo-Addo announced that he would maintain the enhanced hygiene measures and protocols on social distancing to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
At the last count, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 7,881. A total 2,841 of those people had recovered successfully from the disease. Thirty-six people have died from COVID-19 or complications arising from it.
Watch a live stream of President Akufo-Addo’s address to the nation on the spread of the coronavirus here.
