Story: Seth J. Bokpe & Mary Ankrah
Mid-week church service at the Calvary Baptist Church in Adabraka ended abruptly when angry Ga youth from Gbese invaded the church to enforce the ban on noise-making and drumming which is a prelude to the Homowo Festival.
The youth, who arrived at the church in a Mercedes Benz bus and were led by Nii Ayikai, the Gbese Wulomo, were said to have entered the church and asked the members to stop using microphones during the service.
They were also said to have attempted to pack some plastic chairs in the church but they were restrained from carrying them away by the church members.
When the Daily Graphic got to the church premises, the doors leading to the entrance of the church were locked, while groups of church members were seen on the premises discussing the incident.
The Head Pastor of the church, Rev Dr Fred Deegbe, was seen talking to the leaders of the youth from Gbese. A few minutes later, he led the leaders into one of the buildings on the premises.
After a while the two parties returned but declined to comment on the matter.
Armed policemen who arrived on the scene to ensure law and order also declined to comment on the issue.
Nii Ayikai, however, said, “We have resolved whatever it is. There is no need dragging the issue; let’s drop it here.”
A smiling Rev Dr Deegbe could only resort to jokes when asked about how the matter had been resolved.
“What happened? Did something happen?” he asked.
While leaving, some of the youth from Gbese could not resist the temptation to issue threats, saying, ‘’We will come back if we hear the noise.”
In response, some members of the church could only shake their heads.
The Ga Traditional Council declared a ban on drumming, dancing and noise-making within the Ga State beginning May 7, 2012.
A statement issued by the acting President of the council, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, stated that the ban was to usher in the celebration of the Homowo Festival.
It said the traditional “Odadaw”, which signifies the lifting of the ban, would accordingly be performed on June 7, 2012.
It is expected that the public will respect the ban and honour the customs and traditions of the Ga State.
The Homowo celebrations are expected to take place in the following areas on the stipulated dates: Nungua, July 1; Lante Djan We, July 28, and Tema, August 10, 2012.
For some time now, Christians have been asked to restrict the use of drums in their churches and avoid unnecessary noise-making during the period of the ban on drumming by the Ga Traditional Council in the interest of peace and reconciliation.
The issue does not sit well with some churches, especially some charismatic churches whose leaders have vowed not to obey the ban.
This has led to persistent tension between a segment of the Christian community and the traditional authorities in Accra over the annual ban on drumming.
In 1999, the month-long ban provoked tension in Accra, leading to clashes between supporters of the Ga Traditional Council and some Christians who wanted to continue playing drums in church.
About 20 people were injured, church property vandalised and cars destroyed in the violence in some churches in the city.
Similarly, an agreement reached in 2000 between the churches and Ga leaders to prevent violence was not adhered to in 2001. As a result, there were sporadic clashes between church members and Ga youth.
No comments:
Post a Comment