Accra bans drumming, noisemaking

The office of the Ga Mantse, His Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has announced that the annual ban on that preludes rituals for the Homowo festival starts today Monday May 9 to Monday June 9. 

The one-month long ban affects any form of noise-making including the use of loudspeakers, drums, tambourine, clapping of hands and the use of any form of musical instruments within the communities in the Ga State.

A statement from the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) called on the general public to take note and act accordingly as they have done over the period and further entreated all and sundry to respect the Ga customs, practices, usage, and beliefs.

The GTC 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.

It further announced that other guidelines by the Ga State include; all worship centers 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 and the positioning of loudspeakers outside church premises and mosques is banned during this period.

The rest are roadside evangelism and the use of megaphones and other loudspeakers should be avoided during this period.

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.

An earlier statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the GTC, Nii Lartey Anum Tetteh, said during this period, “the Ga State will fast and pray for rainfall, a bountiful harvest and good tidings”.

“The Ga State would also pray for the Country and its citizens to continue to keep the peace, the love, tranquility and good spirit,” the statement added.

The Council also entreated all persons within the Ga State to comply with the month-long ban and refrain from making derogatory remarks about the rites, customs, practices, usages and beliefs of the Ga people.

A task force working with the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies has also been set up to collaborate with the Ghana Police Service and the other Security Agencies to ensure compliance with the ban.