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The Ga Traditional Council has announced the annual ban on drumming and noisemaking effective May 3 to June 4, 2026.
The ban, which forms part of the sacred rites leading to the celebration of the Homowo Festival, takes effect throughout the Ga State in the Greater Accra Region.
However, some traditional areas, including Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Tema, Kpone, Prampram and Ningo will observe the ban at different times in accordance with their traditional calendars.
The respective Ga communities will announce the period of the ban in the specific areas in the course of time, a statement by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) said.
In a message from the traditional council, circulated via video, the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, called on all residents to observe the sacred period with discipline and respect.
He said the period marked the performance of sacred ancestral rites and consequently urged all persons living on Ga land, including visitors, to respect the customs and traditions of the people and the area.
“The time has come once again for the sacred rites of our ancestors. We are entering the period of silence to prepare for our great festival, Homowo,” he said.
Nii Teiko Tsuru further urged residents to refrain from making noise and to live in peace, while seeking blessings for a bountiful harvest.
The Ga Mantse also appealed to security agencies and the task force to enforce the directive with wisdom to ensure peace in Accra and in homes.
In the same recorded message, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, called for strict adherence to the directive.
She urged residents, religious bodies and business operators to cooperate fully by observing the period of silence required for the performance of traditional rites.
“All forms of worship must be confined strictly within your premises. You are permitted to pray, but there must be no clapping of hands, no playing of musical instruments and no use of drums,” she stated.
She further directed that loudspeakers should not be mounted outside buildings, and that microphones must be kept at low volume so the public cannot hear them.
The minister stated that the ban affected street evangelism, roadside preaching and the use of megaphones during the period.
The regional coordinating council’s statement said it had taken note of concerns about “unlawful attempts by some individuals to enforce the ban, including actions that may result in the destruction of property”.
“The GARCC wishes to state unequivocally that such conduct is unacceptable and constitutes a violation of the laws of Ghana,” the statement said.
It consequently directed that any person or group found engaging in unlawful enforcement or causing damage to property would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
It said the Ghana Police Service would enforce the directive in collaboration with the Ga Traditional Council.
