The Ga Traditional Council (GTC) has placed a ban on drumming and noise-making in the traditional area effective Monday, May 9 to Thursday, June 9, 2022, as part of Homowo preparations.

The one-month-long ban is a custom that precedes the celebration of the Homowo festival of the chiefs and people of Ga Mashie.

Addressing the media at the Ga Mantse Palace on Thursday, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II called on individuals and institutions within the Ga state, to celebrate this year's Homowo festival in peace and harmony devoid of violence.

The Ga Mantse urged the youth in particular, to remain calm and disassociate themselves from any form of violence during the celebrations.

The overlord of Ga State called on the chiefs and the elders of Accra and its environs to ensure that the ban was enforced in their respective areas in collaboration with the local district assemblies.

He said a monitoring team had been put in place with special identity cards to ensure compliance with the ban with the support of the police, Asafoatsemei, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Special Taskforce.

“They will visit flashpoints and arrest recalcitrant churches, noisemakers, and those who will impersonate or imposters,” he said.

He said the GTC had reached an understanding with the orthodox churches and they had expressed their cooperation during the ban.

Further, the GTA urged the general public to take notice and observe the rules and regulations regarding the ban on drumming and noise and help to maintain the peace, harmony, and security within the Ga State.

"The GTC shall further count on the cooperation of the various stakeholders in ensuring strict observation and compliance with the Ga customs, practices, and usages," he stressed.

The GTC by this notice entreated all persons within the Ga State to comply with the ban, and refrain from making derogatory remarks about the rites, customs, practices, usages, and beliefs of the Ga people. 

"This is who we are and we value our tradition and culture," the Ga Mantse emphasised.