The Ga Traditional Council, in a move to preserve cultural heritage and enforce traditional customs, has summoned 15 churches in Accra for allegedly flouting the ongoing ban on drumming and noise-making.
The annual ban, which began on May 12 and will end on June 12, 2025, is a significant cultural observance that precedes the Homowo Festival—a period marked by spiritual reflection and ancestral reverence for the Ga people. The directive restricts excessive noise, including drumming, clapping, and outdoor preaching, in order to maintain peace and spiritual solemnity during this sacred season.
Churches in Violation Face Sanctions
According to Asafoatse Mankatta, a leader of the task force mandated to enforce the ban, the infractions included clapping and loud singing during worship sessions. Though singing is permitted, the use of drums, tambourines, and other instruments remains strictly prohibited unless the church operates in a soundproof building.
“The churches were cautioned earlier, and letters of summons were delivered. However, some refused to accept them,” he revealed, speaking to local media including GBC Ghana.
The affected churches, including prominent congregations such as Lighthouse Chapel and Calvary Baptist Church, are expected to appear before the Council on May 22. Failure to comply may lead to stricter penalties.
Council Calls for Respect and Peaceful Coexistence
The Ga Traditional Council, backed by the Greater Accra Regional Peace Council, is urging all religious institutions to honor the ban and show respect for indigenous customs. The Council emphasized that cooperation is crucial to maintaining peaceful coexistence between cultural and religious communities in the capital.
Under the current guidelines, the use of megaphones, loudspeakers, and outdoor musical instruments is strictly forbidden, especially for roadside evangelism and open-air crusades.
As the Homowo Festival approaches, the Council reminds the public that traditions are not meant to clash with faith but to promote harmony, discipline, and unity in diversity.
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