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The Council of Muslim Chiefs, the Western Regional Chief Imam and leaders of the various Muslim groups in the Region came to a consensus not to observe the Friday congregational prayers (Jummah) due to the increased COVID--19 cases in the region.

President Nana Akufo Addo on his last nation address on the COVID -19 pandemic eased restrictions on religious gathering and called on Muslims to pray for the end of the disease during their Jummah Friday prayers.

The President said that all religious activities could commence but with a maximum number of hundred people, with a strict observation of social distancing and a proper application of nose masks.

However, Muslim groups in the Western Region decided to call off the Jummah prayers since they could not meet all the requirements to enable them have a successful Jummah prayers without any hitches.

Speaking to a cross-section of Mulisms in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Hajia Rahina Seidu said it was a laudable idea by the Muslim leadership in the region to ask Muslims to observe their Jummah prayers at home.

She said with the increase in COVID -19 cases it would be advisable for people to stay away from large group prayers for now, since it is not everyone who can strictly observe the preventive protocols.

For his part, Mr Mustafah Salim, a trader, also added that the initiative by the leaders was very good adding that , ‘’the Chief Imam while leading prayers would not be able to check whether people were indeed observing the social distancing rules or not’’.

Master Baba Harunah, a Student, said that it would have been better for the President to wait for an additional month before lifting the ban religious gatherings.

"The additional one month wait may result in the decrease of COVID-19 cases", he said.

He said that it is a worrying situation where a limited number of people are allowed to go to the Mosque while others stayed at home.