Why some Gas are angry

The Public Agenda carries that behind the recent clashes between Ga traditionalists and some Christian churches over the traditionalists' ban on drumming and noisemaking are expressions of social frustrations and some politics, according to some researchers familiar with the issue.

"This (controversy) is really a diversion of the real and genuine grievance Gas might have," says Professor Gyimah-Boadi, Executive Director of the Center for Democracy and Devlopment.

Professor Gyimah-Boadi and some individuals Public Agenda spoke to identified land as a fundamental issue that has fuelled this problem.

"It is clear they have suffered a grievous alienation of their lands, (...) they have suffered encroachment from government and from private developers with or without the support of government," Professor Gyimah Boadi adding that, there are genuine equity claims Gas can make against government and some individual Ghanaians."

The issue of how to ensure that hosting the capital does not cost the Gas too heavily has come up sporadically in various forums. It is sometimes at the root of clashes over some plots of the land in the capital and has also pitted some indigenous people of the city against others, especially on issues of land sales.

"There should have been arrangement (...) for a progressive rent payment so that when times change the original owners can benefit," says Professor Mike Oquaye, a Consultant on Governance and Conflict Studies.