The annual ban on drumming and noise-making as part of preparations for this year's Homowo Festival would commence from today, May 15 to June 15, 2023, the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) has announced.

According to the GTC, the ban would affect any form of noise-making, including the use of loudspeakers, drums, tambourines, roadside evangelism, clapping of hands and any form of musical instruments within the Ga State as well as the holding of funerals.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Public Relations Officer of the Council, Nii Lartey Anum Tetteh said the prayer during the period would focus on peace, love, tranquillity and good spirit for the country.

He stated that a task force working with REGSEC and various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies has been set up to collaborate with the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to monitor and ensure compliance with the ban and prosecute culprits who fail to comply. 

The council urged the general public to take notice and observe the rules regarding the ban to help maintain peace, harmony and security within the Ga state.

The council also entreated religious bodies, traditional councils and other stakeholders within the Ga state to comply with the month-long ban and refrain from making derogatory remarks about the rites, customs, practices, usages and beliefs of the Ga people.

The guidelines established to ensure full compliance include confining the usual form of worship to the premises of churches/mosques with noise levels minimized to the barest limits possible, a ban on positioning loudspeakers outside the premises of churches, mosques and pubs as well as activities of roadside evangelists.