Ban on noise making begins May 9
The ban on drumming and noise-making preceding the Homowo festival in the capital is expected to take effect from May 9 to June 9, 2022, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has announced.
According to the Ga Traditional Council, the ban will be preceded by a ritual of cleansing the sacred forest, which is the first activity towards celebrating the 2022 Homowo festival.
Addressing the media in Accra, the Public Relations Officer of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Lartey Anum Tetteh, said during the ban period, 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, tranquility, and good spirit.”
He also called on churches to carry out their activities within their premises and also avoid clapping of hands and the use of musical instruments.
Other guidelines announced by the Ga State include;
- All worship centres should confine their activities to within their church premises.
- Noise making including clapping of hands, the use of tambourine, and other musical instruments should be avoided during this period.
- The positioning of loudspeakers outside church premises and mosques is banned during this period.
- Roadside evangelism and the use of megaphones and other loudspeakers should be totally avoided during this period.
- Funeral rites and their related activities are also banned within this period.
Meanwhile, Nii Lartey Anum has called on citizens to “refrain from making derogatory remarks about the rites, customs, and practices and beliefs of the Ga people.”