In some parts of Accra, the one-month-old prohibition on drumming and making noise has now been removed.
In the Gbese Palace, amid applause and the firing of musketry, Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II, banged the Odadao twins’ drums to symbolize the lifting of the prohibition.
Traditional chiefs from the Ga states, Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Elizabeth Sackey, Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, Wulomei, and locals all attended the occasion.
The Ga people’s Homowo festival will be celebrated this year, hence there was a band on drumming and the making of loud noises which started on May 15 this year. Any kind of noise-making was prohibited, including the use of loudspeakers, tambourines, drums, and roadside evangelism, among other things.
Theophilus Wilson Adzie, Director of Communications at the Office of the Gbese Mantse, claims that all is ready for the Homowo festival celebration now that the prohibition has been lifted.
“The Odadao signifies the beginning of the Homowo. In a few weeks from now, that will be on the 19th August, the principal jurisdiction of this land will celebrate the Homowo festival. The Homowo festival is an activity to hoot at hunger.
“The Gas have passed through war, have passed through certain journeys, and they did these activities to remember their forefathers and ancestors and ask blessings from the Almighty God.”
Theophilus Wilson Adzie
Henry Quartey Rebuked And Asked To Apologize
Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II requested that Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, apologize to the Ga state for allegedly changing the rules for respecting the month-long prohibition on drumming and loud noises that comes before the Homowo festival.
As you may remember, the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs and Faith-Based Organizations reached a deal to permit the use of public address systems, microphones, and low-volume handclapping in churches but drumming and other loud noises were prohibited.
This occurred following a stakeholders’ conference at Dodowa between the organizations and the Greater Accra Regional Security Council, which was presided over by Henry Quartey and has since been denounced by the Ga Dangme Council.
Gbese Mantse Nii Ayi-Bonte II voiced his displeasure over the issue during the Odadao festival celebration to lift the prohibition on drumming and noisemaking, emphasizing that no one has the authority to obliterate the Ga people’s traditions. As a result, he requested Henry Quartey apologize to the Ga State.
“A lot of things have happened. How is it possible that indigenes of the Ga state, Henry Quartey and Elizabeth Sackey together with religious leaders will try to change Ga traditions and customs? They have no right to do such a thing. The Minister has not been able to come here, Elizabeth Sackey should inform Henry Quartey to apologize to the Ga State.
“I want to pass on a message to the AMA Mayor, Elizabeth Sackey, to be given to Henry Quartey that this should be the first and last time he varies the terms in observing the ban on drumming and noisemaking. We have seen a lot of ministers, and it is not Henry Quartey who will try to destroy our customs and traditions.”
Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II
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