Lecturer of Religion and Media Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Clergyman with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Reverend Dr Opuni Frimpong has called for a national celebration after the COVID-19 pandemic to make up for the 2020 Easter celebration.
Christians around the world who celebrate the death of Christ through Easter, usually in the second week of April annually will be unable to do so this year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which has forced many governments to ban public gatherings including religious activities.
In Ghana, many churches have resorted to virtual conventions to ensure that the purpose of the season is not lost on their members even while they are physically disconnected.
Speaking in an interview with ABC News, Rev Opuni Frimpong, suggested that after the pandemic takes leave of the world, Christian leaders in the country must in consultation with the Presidency, fix a period for a national celebration to make up for the lost Easter festivity.
“We can decide that for some reasons this year, we cannot celebrate Easter on Friday and Monday but we will listen to our leaders and our professionals. But after this, the Christian leaders must come together to do a symbolic celebration. That what we could not do on Easter Friday, what we could not do on Easter Sunday, as a nation, and that one should be done with our leaders, with the office of the President, this is a national, Ghanaian celebration that what we could not do on 10 and 12 April, we are doing on this period,” he indicated.
The former General Secretary of the Christian Council further highlighted the need for Christians to remain spiritually united with the love of God even though there is a community separation.
“Easter celebrations have both public and private dimensions, there are parts that individuals decide that I will do it alone but this is a festival, it’s a Christian celebration and it brings us together and in the process, we derive strength in the closeness. Unfortunately, at the moment, the closeness has become a vulnerability. What gives us a sense of community and strength has now become a vulnerability. The more I come close to you, the more we are putting ourselves in danger. This has weakened the public side or celebration of Easter but let me say that we may be physically separated but we must remain spiritually united.
“The love of God that is manifested in Chirst, the whole Christ event which is the suffering and the resurrection of Christ, out of that we receive the love of God and it is that love of God that binds us together with God and with one another. So, our sense of community is in Christ and that love of God binds us together, nothing can separate us. Physically, we may not together but spiritually, we are and that should be our focus,” he said.
Source: ABCNewsgh.com