Homowo Festival in limbo

Climax of this year’s Homowo celebrations, slated for Saturday, August 12, 2017 may not come off, Today has learnt.

This likely situation follows an intended application to be filed at an Accra High Court for an interim injunction to stop the celebration, Today can confirm.

Impeccable sources close to Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) told Today that some elders with the tacit support of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Ishmael Ashitey, are preparing to file a suit at an Accra High Court in their bid to place a ban on the celebration of this year’s Homowo festival.

The writ, which is yet to be filed by the elders, will be seeking to restrain Chief Executive Officer of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr. Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah, from opening the Ga Mantse Palace for unaccredited/unauthorised chiefs and elders (names withheld) of the Ga Traditional Council who are planning to perform various traditional rites including sprinkling of the traditional food, kpoikpoi (a Ga delicacy) that is prepared during the celebration of Homowo.

But Nii Ayi Bonte, who has been restrained by the law court to stop carrying himself as Gbese Mantse, ignored that order by the court and led the people of Ga Traditional Council to place a ban on drumming and noising making in the Ga State.

Probing further, Today gathered that apart from the current Ga Mantse, Nii (Dr.) Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the two other claimants to the stool are Boni Nii Tackie Adama Latse II and Nii Tackie Obli II.

With few days to go for the Ga Homowo celebration, Today can report that it is unclear which of the three chiefs of the Ga State will lead the celebration.

However, in order not to allow anybody to disturb the peace in the Ga State, Mr. Ashitey, who doubles as Chairman of Greater Accra REGSEC, together with some elders are planning to file a suit at the Accra High Court to stop the celebration.

Mr. Ashitey, according to sources, has indicated that the security forces will not spare anyone who attempts to foment trouble ahead of the Homowo celebration in the Ga State.

“Nobody would be allowed to disturb the peace and unity,” sources quoted the minister.