The Ga Traditional Council has announced a ban on noisemaking within the Ga State from Monday, May 4, to Thursday, June 4, ahead of the annual Homowo Festival.

The directive was made public at a press conference in Accra on Thursday, March 26, by the president of the Ga-Dangme Council, Nii Ayikoi Otoo. He explained that the ban is intended to ensure peace, solemnity, and spiritual reflection in the lead-up to the festival.

“The traditional council hereby informs the general public that, as part of the customary rites leading to the celebration of the annual festival, there will be a ban on drumming and noise-making within the jurisdiction of the Ga states from Monday, May 4, to Thursday, June 4," he said.

Outlining the rules of the ban, Mr Otoo explained that all worship centres must restrict their activities to within their premises, with the use of microphones, hand clapping, tambourines, and other musical instruments strictly prohibited.

He added that loudspeakers outside church and mosque premises are not allowed, roadside evangelism using megaphones or any form of amplification is banned, and funeral rites and related activities are prohibited during this period and for a week following the official lifting of the ban.

The directive applies throughout the Ga State, while traditional areas including Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Tema, Prampram, and Kpone will announce their own specific periods for similar bans after May 4.

"Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Tema, and Kpone traditional areas will announce separate plans after May 4 for specific periods,” Nii Ayikoi Otoo added.

The Council emphasised that the ban is a customary observance crucial to the spiritual and cultural significance of Homowo, which celebrates the end of famine and the abundance of the harvest.