Activate joint committee to monitor ban on noise making

The Rev. Dr Fred Deegbe, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), on Friday called on the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to immediately activate the Joint

Committee set up by stakeholders to maintain peace and stability during the ban on drumming and noise making in the capital city.

He said the committee was charged to educate, monitor, investigate and manage all problems and misunderstanding arising out of ban and noise making on yearly bases.

Rev. Dr Deegbe was speaking to the Ghana News

Agency (GNA) in Accra on the annual ban on drumming and noising in the capital which normally precedes the Ga traditional rites of the Homowo festival.

The committee members include Ga Traditional Council, the Africania Mission, National Catholic Secretariat, Christian Council of Ghana, Council of Independent Churches and National Association of Christian and Charismatic Churches.

The rest are the Federation of Muslim Councils of Ghana, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Regional Co-ordinating Council and the GaDangme Council.

Rev. Dr. Deegbe said it was intended that the committee would look at the issues before the ban was imposed each year but this had not been so.

He said in 2002, in the wake of the confusion that ensued between some traditionalists and churches within the capital a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was reached between the various stakeholders to meet regularly with the Ga Traditional Council.

He said the Joint Committee which was put in place at the behest of the stakeholders to ensure peace and tranquility during the period of the ban had been dormant for some time now and needed to be revived.

Dr. Deegbe also expressed concern about chieftaincy issues within the Ga traditional area saying this was worrying and called for their amicable settlement.

He said even though the ban had been announced the by the RCC without informing the council they would comply and notify their members accordingly.

The General Secretary further stated that the Christian Council and the National Catholic Secretariat would hold a joint meeting next week to look at the issues of national interest as well as concerns over the ban on drumming and noise making in the capital.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh Ibrahim C Quaye, on Friday called for strict public compliance and observance of the annual ban on drumming and noise making, effective May 7 to June 7.

He said this would ensure peace, harmony and respect of the tradition of the people of the region.

Sheikh Quaye who made the call at a press briefing warned that the law would deal ruthlessly with any individual or group of persons who tried to flout the law to create confusion during the period.

The Minister further assured the public of strict security to prevent nasty confrontations. -- GNA