The Ga Traditional Council has called on churches, event organisers and members of the public to respect the custom and tradition of the Ga State by honouring the ban on drumming and noise making.
According to the council, the month-long ban is scheduled to start from May 2, 2016 and end on June 2, 2016. At the end of the period, the Odadaw custom will be performed to signify the lifting of the ban on drumming and noise making.
The council said the ban was a significant feature to herald the celebration of the Homowo Festival of the Ga-Dangme.
Important feature
Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Gbese Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State, Nii Ayi Bonte II, surrounded by other traditional leaders, said the ban was a very important feature in the activities leading to the celebration of the Homowo Festival.
The conference was aimed at informing the general public about the programmes and activities that would lead to the successful celebration of the 2016 Homowo Festival.
He said the one month period was used to fast and pray for peace, progress and the welfare of the Ga-Dangme people in particular and the country as a whole.
Task force
Nii Ayi Bonte said a task force comprising Wulomei from the Ga State had been set up to work in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service to monitor and enforce the ban on noise making in the Ga Traditional Area.
He called on all the towns and villages within the Ga state that organised their programmes simultaneously with the main Odadaw custom, saying such acts would not be tolerated this year and warned that any institution, group of people or chiefs who flouted the rules and regulations governing this year’s festival would be sanctioned.
The Gbese Mantse said this year was an election year, and there was, therefore, the need for people to comport themselves and ensure a peaceful presidential and parliamentary election come November 7, 2016.
He also called on the Dzasetsemei of the state to desist from the practice of installing rival chiefs, which has been one of the major challenges facing the state.
“The council wishes all residents within the Ga State a successful and peaceful period of meditation,” he said, adding that the Homowo celebration would begin with Nungua followed by Lante Djan We, then Tema followed by Ga Mashie while the rest: Osu, La, Teshie, Kpone, Prampram and Ningo would follow.
Guidelines
According to him, the ban on drumming and noise making in the Ga Traditional Area should be observed under the following guidelines in the interest of peace, harmony and national security:
All worship should be confined to church premises; noise, including hand clapping should cease; positioning of loud speakers outside the church premises and the mosques is to be banned during the period.
Roadside evangelists should avoid the use of noise-making equipment, and the use of noisy musical instruments must be avoided.
Major churches
“The Ga Traditional Council appreciates the continuous cooperation of some of the major Christian communities in the city during the period.” He urged the recalcitrant smaller ones to take a cue from the major ones and cooperate with the Ga State.
"The general Christian Community and Traditional authorities must show respect for one another and restrain their followers from making derogatory statements about the beliefs and practices of another's religion,” he added.
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