This year’s annual prohibition on noisemaking and drumming has begun, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has notified the people within its jurisdiction.
The AMA has announced that this year’s prohibition will begin on Monday, May 15, and end on Thursday, June 15. Gilbert Nii Ankrah, the organization’s head of public affairs, made the announcement in a press release. The statement claims that the AMA’s outlined rules serve the benefit of all people and protect national security.
Parts of the statement read, “The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) wishes to inform all residents in its jurisdiction that, this year’s ban on drumming and noise-making commences from Monday, May 15th May to Thursday 15th June 2023. It has therefore set the following guidelines in the interest of peace, harmony and national security. During the period of the ban, churches are expected to carry out their activities within their premises and refrain from the use of musical instruments.”
Placing loudspeakers outside of public buildings like churches, mosques, and bars is prohibited. Those who preach by the side of the road are ordered to stop. This prohibition includes funerals and any related ceremonies. The statement also called on religious and traditional leaders to treat one another with dignity and warn their followers against making offensive comments about the other’s religion or way of life.
“The positioning of loudspeakers outside the premises of churches, mosques and pubs are banned. Roadside evangelists are to cease their activities during this period. Religious bodies and the Traditional Authorities must show respect for one another and restrain their followers from making derogatory and inflammatory remarks about the beliefs and practices of one another. By this notice, we entreat all persons, towns and villages within the Ga Traditional Area to cooperate and comply with the directive accordingly during this period.”
Read the full statement below
The reason behind the banning of drumming and singing during the Homowo Festival
According to Ga oral tradition, the priests put a stop to drumming, dancing, funerals, and other ways of making noise right after the traditional sowing of maize in order to “leave the gods undisturbed while they look after the yams”
