Churches deserve COVID-19 stimulus package – Pentecostal and Charismatic Council

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has asked government to include churches in the plan to provide stimulus packages in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

General Secretary of the council, Reverend Emmanuel T. Barigah said the impact of the pandemic makes its imperative for churches also to receive government support.

“Some of our member churches have pastors who are solely dependent upon the ministry for their livelihood. So, if small businesses, for instance, have suffered as a result of this pandemic and have pleaded to be given stimulus package in order to get back on their feet, then you will appreciate that some of these small congregations who have not met for a long time will also need some kind of stimulus to be able to pay some pastors and workers,” he told Starr FM in an interview monitored by theghanareport.com.

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As part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo ordered the closure of some businesses for weeks.

The closure affected the revenue of businesses, especially Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

In a bid to cushion Ghanaians from the impact, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on April 5, announced a soft loan scheme of up to GH¢600 million for SMEs.

The move is to sustain the country’s affected industries and address the disruption in economic activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Given the impact of the disease on Ghana’s economy, which is expected to cost in excess of GH¢9 billion, the government set aside a stimulus package of GH¢1 billion for industry.

Following the announcement of the stimulus package, entertainers and sports sectors have also called for some government support due to the impact of the coronavirus.

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The GPCC is the latest to join calls for government support.

Reverend Gariba in the interview monitored by theghanareport.com said “Some of our congregations are very small, and the close down over the period has affected them financially. So they will need some time and help to be able to get ready to reopen”.