Coronavirus: Vice President Bawumia urges Muslim leaders to adopt online delivery of sermons

Following the outbreak of Coronavirus and the suspension of religious gathering by the government to help curb the spread of the virus, the Vice President met Muslim leaders at the Jubilee House for a special breakfast and prayer meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, which had the National Chief Imam and Imams of the various Islamic sects in attendance, Dr. Bawumia said as Muslims observe their prayers at home, it would be extremely beneficial for one of the most important aspects of the weekly Friday prayers, Khutba (sermon), to be delivered live through social media.

"During this temporary period of not being able to converge at mosques for prayers and also listen to the weekly Friday Khutba, I will like to suggest an innovative way of delivering weekly sermons through social media to homes in the country by Imams and mosques which have the capacity to do so," Dr. Bawumia told the eminent Imams.

The Ghana Police Mosque has already adopted the online delivery of sermons to its congregants and the Vice President commended them for the initiative and asked other mosques to emulate them.

"I am happy the Ghana Police Mosque has announced its intention to deliver live Friday sermons through Facebook to its congregants and Muslims in general during this temporary suspension of congregational prayers."

"The Khutba is an important aspect of our Jummah prayers and a real source of weekly inspiration to Muslims so I will like to encourage Imams and mosques across the country to consider this on-line innovation."

The breakfast prayer meeting was a continuation of the government's engagements with religious leaders in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis.

President Akufo-Addo had a similar meeting with leadership of the Christian community on Thursday.