Henry Quartey, the Chairman of the Regional Security Council, who also serves as the Greater Accra Regional Minister, has directed the Divisional and District Commanders of Police to liaise with the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDCEs), to ensure that people withing specified zones comply with the ban on noise-making and drumming.

This comes after the Ga Traditional Council announced the ban on noise-making and drumming, effective May 15, as part of the annual Homowo festival celebrations.

Henry Quartey, who spoke at the Ga Mantse’s Palace, claims that it is a necessity that the directive is fully adhered to by all and sundry, in Accra.

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“I will hereby direct that with immediate effect, you will instruct your Divisional and District Commanders of Police to work with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDCEs) to ensure strict adherence to the ban on drumming and noise making. There will be no exception, no police officer or any member of the security agency, is supposed to flout this.

“Ban on drumming, means ban on drumming. The MMDCEs are hereby directed to go back to their respective Assemblies and go to MESEC, DISEC, REGSEC meetings and invite all the faith-based groups in your Assemblies and communicate the directive to them.”
Henry Quartey

Moreover, he trashed claims of offering portions of the Agbogbloshie land to the government for the housing project for head potters and thereby, threatened a defamation suit in demand for GH¢4 million.

“I’m giving a one-week ultimatum to persons accusing me of selling portions of the reclaimed Agbogbloshie lands, to retract that statement, otherwise I will take legal action against,” Henry Quartey cautioned.

However, a task-force in charge of prosecuting offenders of the ban on drumming and noise-making, has been set up by the Ga Traditional Council, and will collaborate with the Ghana Police Service. The council on Thursday, announced that this year’s ban on noise-making will be from May 15 to June 15, as part of activities to mark the 2023 edition of the Homowo festival

Addressing the media on behalf of the Ga Mantse, Public Relations Officer of Ga Traditional Council, Nii Lartey Anum Tetteh, entreated the public and all stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with Ga traditions and customs. “We call on the public to comply with the Ga traditions and customs,” the Public Relations Officer of Ga Traditional Council averred.

Ban On Noise Making, Drumming Begins May 15

The month-long ban, forms part of activities to mark this year’s Homowo festival. The ban affects any form of noise-making, including the use of loudspeakers, drums, tambourines, funeral rites and roadside evangelism.

Addressing the media on behalf of the Ga Mantse, Nii Lartey Anum Tetteh, the Public Relations Officer of the Ga Traditional Council, stated emphatically that a task force has been constituted to prosecute offenders who go against the custom put in place.

He claimed that a set of guidelines, have been provided to ensure full compliance with the directive. The Public Relations Officer of the Ga Traditional Council averred that “During the period of the ban, the usual form of worship should be confined to the premises of churches/mosques and noise levels be minimized to the barest limits possible.”

“Religious bodies and the Traditional Authorities must show respect for one another and restrain their followers from making derogatory and inflammatory remarks about the beliefs and practices of one another. The positioning of loudspeakers outside the premises of churches, mosques and pubs are banned. Roadside evangelists, are to cease their activities during this period.

“Apart from an identifiable task force, which consists of AMA personnel, the Police Service and Representatives from the Traditional Councils with tags, no other person or group of persons should be seen or found enforcing the abatement of noise in the metropolis.”
Nii Lartey Anum Tetteh

Boundaries reported to be affected by the ban, include, the Northern Boundary; which is the Boundary dividing Accra from the Eastern Region, the Western Boundary; Odukpon Kpehe (Kasoa), Eastern Boundary; Osu, Ngleshie Alata and the Ga Traditional Councils.