Accra, Aug. 16, GNA - The Chiefs and people of Osu Alata in Accra on Tuesday extended their annual celebration of the Homowo festival, deep into the Osu Castle, the seat of Government, where they sprinkled the traditional food, Kpokpoi in honour of their ancestors. The revellers numbering more than 300 and comprising tourists mainly African-Americans, entered the heavily fortified premises uninhibited but under the watchful eyes of the security personnel to designated sacred spots for the rituals.
They where led by the Gyaasetse, Nii Quarshie Aniefi IV, who poured libation to thank God and their ancestors for their blessing for the past year.
He also used the occasion to ask for Divine direction and focus for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in order to promote national development.
Homowo, meaning hooting at hunger, is a thanksgiving festival, which is celebrated to mark the end of a famine, which nearly exterminated the Gas in some years gone by.
The Osu Alata community traced their ancestry from Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region, where their ancestors migrated in 1627 and settled at the location of the Christianborg Castle.
Gyaasetse Aniefi told the Ghana News Agency that a number of their ancestors died and were buried at the Castle premises, hence the need to use the festival to accord them the needed respect and recalled their contributions to the Ga State.
Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who addressed the revellers later, described Osu as the traditional stronghold of the NPP and asked the people to cooperate with the Government to implement its development agenda.
He asked them to embrace what he described as the educational policy introduced by the Government.
On behalf of the Government, the Vice President presented assorted drinks and unspecified amount of money to the traditional authorities to facilitate the celebration of the festival. 16 Aug. 05
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