Action Chapel International prays against Ebola (17 October 2014)

Hundreds of Christians yesterday turned out at the Prayer Cathedral of the Action Chapel International (ACI) on the Spintex Road in Accra to pray against the dreaded Ebola Virus.

The church has declared a two-week fasting and prayer session as part of its contribution to preventing the disease from entering Ghana.

Led in prayer by the Founder of the ACI, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams and Prophet Gideon Danso, a senior pastor of the church,the congregation prayed, building spiritual walls around the country during its weekly Dominion Hour prayer session.
 
Prophet Danso told the highly charged congregation that Ebola could be blocked with prayer.

With that, shouts of “Ebola away!! Ebola, be accursed!!” filled the room, as the congregants clapped and stamped their feet to symbolically trample on the disease.

Prophet Danso observed that the recent research that indicated that Ghana would be one of the latest countries that the disease would spread to was not far-fetched as the researchers had taken into account the fact that Ghana had a football match against Guinea, one of the Ebola-endemic countries.

Ghana played Guinea last  Wednesday in a 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Tamale, which the Black Stars won by three goals to one.

The research, conducted by the Northeastern University, USA, says countries with the largest probability of seeing the arrival of  Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) cases before the end of October 2014 are Ghana, the United States, France, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire.

The report was compiled before Senegal, Nigeria and the United States recorded any case and was published on October 6, 2014.

He, however, said there was nothing that prayer had no antidote for.

‘Don’t rest on your oars’

Prophet Danso urged the congregation to not be deterred by media reports that seemed to mock a prophecy by Arcbishop Duncan-Williams that the disease could be in the country soon.

He called on the health authorities, the security services and policy makers to not rest on their oars.
The congregation prayed for the nation, calling on God to save it from any human, bird or animals that may be a carrier of the disease into the country.

The congregation also prayed for Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, where the disease was on the rampage, and Nigeria,  Spain, Germany, Australia and the United States, countries that have so far had a brush with the disease.

The day was not just about prayers as the congregation were educated on how the disease spread.
More than 100 suspected cases have been investigated in Ghana by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research but have all proven negative.

Last Sunday, Archbishop Duncan-Williams, in a sermon at the church, warned of a possible outbreak of the disease in the country between now and November.

He said while the church would pray against what he described as “evil Ebola virus”, it was important for the security services and the health authorities to do their job to prevent the epidemic from entering the country.

Collective fight against Ebola  

Speaking to the Daily Graphic after the prayers, Archbishop Duncan Williams said the battle against Ebola was a collective one that should be taken seriously.

He said the ACI would continue to lead the crusade against the disease as its impact, if it enters the country, could be devastating.

He, therefore, called on all Ghanaians to join the crusade against the disease.
Writer’s email:seth.bokpe@graphic.com.gh