President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday announced the lifting of the ban imposed political activities alongside other social gatherings.

According to the president political activities, except rallies, can be organised but with a maximum of 100 persons.

The restrictions on private burials, conferences, workshops, and weddings have been equally relaxed if the attendees are not more than 100.

The lifting of the bans will allow religious groups to hold services all aimed at easing the restrictions to restore normalcy and allow the restoration of socio-economic life amid living with Covid-19.

The wearing of face masks and observing a mandatory one-metre social distancing rule is to be enforced.

In the case of the church services, worshippers would not spend more than one hour, while congregants are also required to strictly comply with hygiene protocols to ensure the safety of all.

In his 10th national broadcast on measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 on Sunday night, President Akufo-Addo, therefore, said effective Friday, June 5, Muslims could worship at the mosques, while Adventists followed suit on Saturday, June 6, with Christians who hold services on Sundays, following on June 7.

The religious institutions are required to keep a register of names and contact details of all worshippers, amid frequent hand washing and the use of sanitizers.

Prior to the re-opening of churches and mosques, they must disinfect and fumigate their premises and put in place appropriate logistics to guarantee the safety of their members.

The President said the decision to ease the restrictions was based on a consensus that emerged from stakeholder consultations to ensure a strategic, controlled, progressive and safe easing of restrictions to get lives and economy back to normal.

He explained: “As I stated in my May Day address, a month ago, I am now in a position to outline the roadmap for easing safely the restrictions.

“Ours is going to be a phased approach, involving a selected list of public gatherings, based on their risk profile, socio-economic impact, and, most importantly, our capacity to enforce and to respond, in the event of a flair up in our number of infections.

“So, fellow Ghanaians, with effect from Friday, 5th June, we will begin Stage One of the process of easing restrictions”, he stated.