A one-month noise ban has been announced ahead of the Homowwo festival scheduled for August this year. The ban forms part of a preparatory ritual ahead of the festival to uphold Ga Traditional customs and to ensure peace, harmony, and national security during the sacred observance.

The ban was announced by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Head of Public Affairs, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, in a formal press release indicating that beginning Monday, May 4, and Thursday, June 4, noise-making has been banned across the Ga Traditional Area. This means that all activities, religious and social, must cease entirely for the duration of the period.

Some areas covered by the ban include communities around the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Head Office, Gamashie, Ablekuma West and Kasoa.

The Public Affairs head also warned that churches and mosques desist from using any musical instruments that produce noise, as well as ensure compliance on the part of their members.

“Churches are required to conduct their activities strictly within their premises and are prohibited from using musical instruments. The use of external loudspeakers by churches, mosques and pubs has also been banned.“Roadside evangelism activities are expected to cease throughout the period,” parts of the statement noted.

It continued that “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.”

The AMA also mentioned that all funeral rites and other activities linked to it are prohibited.

“In line with directives from the Ga Traditional Council, funeral rites and related activities are prohibited during the ban period.”

In a strong appeal for interfaith restraint, the AMA urged religious bodies and traditional authorities to show mutual respect and prevent their followers from making derogatory or inflammatory remarks about the beliefs and practices of others. The notice stressed that such remarks could undermine the peace and harmony the ban seeks to protect.

Enforcement, the Assembly clarified, rests solely with an identifiable joint task force comprising AMA personnel, the Ghana Police Service, and representatives of the Traditional Councils. All members of this team will wear tags. No private person or unauthorised group is allowed to enforce the noise abatement.

Residents, towns, and villages within the Ga Traditional Area are expected to cooperate fully. The AMA described the period as the “Nmaa Dumo” observance and appealed for compliance to ensure an incident-free season. The release ended with the familiar civic call: “Accra, live in, love it!!!”

“All are enjoined to abide by these guidelines,” the notice read. “For peace, harmony and national security.”

Last year, some churches were invited by the AMA for flouting the noise ban rules.

The leader of the task force set up by the Ga Mashie Traditional Council, Asafoatse Mankatta, revealed that 15 churches, including Lighthouse Chapel International and Calvary Baptist Church, were being questioned for allegedly flouting the ban on noise-making and drumming.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) had imposed a ban on drumming and noise-making in the capital from Monday, May 12 to June 12, in observance of the Nmaa Dumɔ period, in line with the customs of the Ga Traditional Council.

Leadership of the affected churches was expected to appear before the council on May 22. According to Mankatta, failure to honour the invitation could result in sanctions. He expressed disappointment over what he described as a disregard for Ga customs and traditions.

“We have great respect for Calvary Baptist Church, but we were surprised to see them violating the orders of the Traditional Council; they were making noise as if there was nothing at stake,” he was quoted as saying.

The AMA had also prohibited the use of loudspeakers outside churches, mosques, pubs, and other public spaces. The month-long restriction further affected funeral rites and related activities. A joint task force comprising AMA personnel, the Ghana Police Service, and representatives of the traditional councils was tasked with enforcing the directive.

The Homowo Festival holds deep cultural significance for the Ga people, commemorating their triumph over famine and marking a season of abundance. The quiet period preceding the celebrations serves as a time for reflection ahead of the festivities.

Over the years, the ban has intersected with the practices of Ghana’s religious communities, many of which incorporate music and drumming into worship. According to the Ghana Statistical Service 2021 census, 32% of the population are Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians, 17% Protestants, 10% Catholic, and 20% Muslim.

Tensions have occasionally arisen, particularly about two decades ago, when some churches defied the ban, leading to confrontations with sections of the Ga community. In some instances, this escalated into attacks on churches, underscoring a longstanding tension between the preservation of traditional customs and the constitutional right to religious freedom.

Over the years, several churches have been sanctioned, with some fined and others having their musical equipment confiscated for violating the directive.