Greater Accra: Ban On Drumming, Noise-Making Begins On May 9 – Ga Traditional Council

The Ga Traditional Council has announced May 9, 2022, as the day for the commencement of its annual month-long ban on drumming and noise-making in the Ga State.

It said the ban will be preceded by a ritual of cleansing of the sacred forest as the first activity towards the celebration of the 2022 Homowo festival.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Lartey Anum Tetteh, while addressing the press, said during the period of the ban, they will fast and pray for the peace and unity of the country.

“The Ga Traditional Council announces to the public that the 2022 Ga Homowo festival will commence with cleansing the sacred farm on the 2nd of May 2022. This will be followed by the ban on drumming and noise-making from the 9th day of May to the 9th day of June 2022. During this period, the Ga state will fast and pray for rainfall and a bumper harvest. The Ga State will also pray for the country and its citizens to continue to keep the peace, love, tranquillity, and good spirit.”

 

Nii Lartey Anum said the Ga State expects churches to carry out their activities within their premises and also avoid clapping of hands and the use of musical instruments.

 

 

Other guidelines by the Ga State include;

1. All worship centers should confine their activities to within their church premises.

2. Noise making including clapping of hands, the use of tambourine, and other musical instruments should be avoided during this period.

3. The positioning of loudspeakers outside church premises and mosques is banned during this period.

4. Roadside evangelism and the use of megaphones and other loudspeakers should be totally avoided during this period.

5. Funeral rites and their related activities are also banned within this period.

 

 

 

The lifting of the ban will be at the forecourt of Gbese Mantse’s palace on June 9, 2022.

According to Nii Lartey Anum, a task force has been put together within the various Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to work with the police to monitor, ensure compliance and prosecute persons found to be defying the ban.

He further warned citizens to “refrain from making derogatory remarks about the rites, customs, and practices and beliefs of the Ga people.”

 

The Ga Traditional Council (GTC) has placed a ban on drumming and noise-making in the traditional area, starting from May 9 to June 9, 2022, with a call by the Paramount Chief of Ga Traditional Area, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, for peace and tolerance during, before after the celebrations.

 

The one-month-long ban is a custom that precedes the celebration of the Homowo festival of the chiefs and people of Ga Mashie.

 

Addressing the media yesterday, at the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II further called on the institutions within the Ga state, to celebrate this year’s Homowo festival in peace and harmony, devoid of violence.

 

 

The event comes off on May 9, 2022, and will end on June 9, 2022.

 

The Ga Mantse urged the youth in particular, to remain calm and disassociate themselves from any form of violence during the celebrations.

 

The overlord of Ga State called on the chiefs and the elders of Accra and its environs to ensure that the ban was enforced in their respective areas in collaboration with the local district assemblies.

 

He said a monitoring team had been put in place with special identity cards to ensure compliance with the ban with the support of the police, Asafoatsemei, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Special Taskforce.

 

“They will visit flashpoints and arrest recalcitrant churches, noise makers, and those who will impersonate or imposters,” he said.

 

He said the GTC had reached an understanding with the orthodox churches and they had expressed their cooperation during the ban.

 

Further, the GTA urged the general public to take notice and observe the rules and regulations regarding the ban on drumming and noise and help to maintain the peace, harmony, and security within the Ga State.

 

“The GTC shall further count on the cooperation of the various stakeholders in ensuring strict observation and compliance with the Ga customs, practices, and usages,” he stressed.

 

The GTC by this notice entreated all persons within the Ga State to comply with the ban, and refrain from making derogatory remarks about the rites, customs, practices, usages, and beliefs of the Ga people.

This is who we are and we value our tradition and culture,” the Ga Mantse emphasized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: MyGhanaMedia.com