Chiefs of the Ga traditional area have called on residents of Accra to honour the customs and traditions of the Ga State by observing the ban on drumming and noise-making which begins today, Monday May 7.
The one-month ban on noise-making would be lifted on June 7.
According to the chiefs, whilst the chiefs respected the independence of individuals and groups in the city, they wanted the inhabitants of Accra, particularly religious bodies, civil society groups, political parties, etc, to cooperate and adhere to the customs and traditions of the Ga traditional area.
At a news conference in Accra, a statement read on behalf of the chiefs by Nii Nabi Anyah Tackie Yarpoi, the Stool�s Secretary, noted that in order to ensure an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, the chiefs were calling on the residents of Accra to exhibit a high sense of discipline and become law-abiding during the period.
He said that the ban on drumming and noise-making marked the Homowo festival celebrated by the Ga traditional area in the Greater Accra Region.
According to Nii Yarpoi, the custom �odadaw�, which signified the lifting of the ban, would accordingly be performed on June 7 to celebrate the annual festival.
The following dates, he said, had been allotted the various areas to begin the celebration of the Homowo festival: Nungua, Sunday July 1; Lante Djanwe, Saturday July 28; Tema, Friday August 10 and Ga Mashie, Saturday August 11.
The rest are: Osu, La, Teshie, Kpone, Prampram and Ningo, Tuesday August 21.
Touching on chieftaincy disputes and land issues, he appealed to all Gas, particularly the traditional authorities in places like Joma, Achiaman, Oblogo, Obhie etc, to be patient while the Ga Traditional Council was revitalized to make sure that peace prevailed in those areas.
On sanitation, he noted that since the role of the traditional leaders was to ensure that Accra, during this time on the Ga calendar, was virtually clean and peaceful to observe the Homowo celebrations, they were calling on residents of Accra to support AMA to tidy up the city of Accra.
�We wish therefore to call on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the sub metros and other sanitation operatives in Accra whose efforts in keeping Accra clean are very much appreciated, to strive harder in ensuring a total clean environment free of any endemic.
�We also appeal to government to give the AMA a free hand in dealing with the slums situation and appeal to the residence to devoid the exercise from political interference,� the statement noted.
On the biometric registration, Nii Yarpoi, on behalf of the chiefs, called on Ghanaians to ensure that there was peace during the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise.
The chiefs appealed to politicians to be tolerant in their statements to avoid inflaming passions. �We condemn in no uncertain terms utterances calling for war against Gas and Ewes�, he said.
�The Ga traditional area where the Odododiodioo constituency is located comprises seven divisions and is made up of 123 centres, out of which only six polling centres witnessed disturbances in the area�, he said.
He noted that the chiefs and people of Ga Mashie were peace-loving, adding that nothing must be done to damage the relationship that existed between Gas and other sister ethnic groups.
�We therefore call on political parties to adhere to electoral laws and be mindful of their utterances in order not to inflame passions,� he said.
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