Ga Tradition Brings Quiet to Accra from May 12
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has declared a month-long ban on drumming and noise-making in Accra, effective from Monday, May 12, to Thursday, June 12, 2025. This annual restriction aligns with the Ga Traditional Council’s customs, preparing for the Homowo festival—a significant cultural event for the Ga people.
The ban prohibits loud activities like drumming, amplified music from churches or mosques, and funeral rites across the city. Enforced by AMA personnel and police, it aims to ensure peace and spiritual reflection during the Nmaa Dumↄ period, a sacred time for the Ga community. Residents are urged to comply to maintain harmony.
This tradition, however, has a history of tension. Between 1998 and 2001, the “Drum Wars” saw Pentecostal churches clashing with Ga traditionalists after defying the ban, highlighting the challenge of balancing cultural heritage with modern practices in a bustling city like Accra.
The AMA emphasizes mutual respect, asking all groups to avoid derogatory remarks about differing beliefs. Contact numbers for stakeholders, including Gilbert Nii Ankrah (0243211345), have been provided for clarification, ensuring a peaceful observance of this Ga tradition.
Source: 3News