Church leaders in Gabon are engaged in a fierce tussle with the government as it prepares to re-open places of worship after months of coronavirus-induced closure, with restrictions deemed far too severe for poor families.
Authorities have said that churches and mosques can reopen on October 30 after being closed since March, provided they respect tough health protocols, including a requirement to produce a negative Covid-19 test result. The rite of communion remains banned. “We find very difficult the measure calling on our faithful to present a negative COVID test, which now costs money and risks creating discrimination between the less well off and those who have greater means,” several Christian organisations said in a joint statement.
The cost of tests for the virus varies considerably between 5,000 and 20,000 CFA francs (7.5 and 30.5 euros / $9 and $36), far too expensive for many poor Gabonese families.
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Harrison Okafor
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Judith is a believer, a lover of Christ and a Gospel freak person. A passionate gospel blogger and press writer. I work with GospelHitsNaija.net Media, no 1 Gospel music platform.
