Ga traditionalists clash with churches

A group of men last Sunday clashed with members of four churches over the ban on noise-making and drumming in some parts of Accra.
The men who claimed to be Ga traditionalists in the Abeka Lapaz area, on Sunday, May 26, 2014 stormed the premises of the churches in the area and confiscated their musical instruments for disregarding the ban on noise-making imposed by the Ga Traditional Council.
The ban on drumming and noise-making came into effect on May 12 and will end on June 12, 2014, in line with the customs of the people of the Greater Accra Region prior to the celebration of the Homowo Festival of the Gas.

Distress call
The Tesano Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent of Police Mr Francis Aboagye Nyarko, told the Daily Graphic that the Tesano Police received a call about the clash between a church and some people from the traditional council in the area.
He said a police patrol team was dispatched to the scene where the traditional leaders were fighting with the members of the church.
As a result of the scuffle, five members of the church were assaulted by the members from  the traditional council.
Earlier, the traditionalists had confiscated the musical instruments and speakers of three other churches and packed them into a mini bus.
Respect for customs
Meanwhile, the police have arrested five of the traditionalists for questioning.
Mr Nyarko said the traditional council members were cautioned and granted self-recognisance bail and their vehicle released to them.
The musical instruments and speakers were also later handed over to the respective churches.
“The traditional leaders were advised not to take the law into their own hands and the churches were also admonished to respect the customs of the people because the 1992 Constitution of Ghana encourages all Ghanaians to respect our customs,” he said.
Task force
Until June 12, churches, mosques and music retail shops have been advised not to position loud speakers outside their premises.
In the interest of peace, harmony and national security, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced that apart from a special task force set up to enforce the ban, no individual or group of persons should be seen or found enforcing the abatement of noise in the metropolis.
The task force consists of AMA personnel, policemen and representatives of the Ga Traditional Council.