Asogli and Ga Traditional Council strengthen bond

Accra, March 29, GNA - The month-long annual ban on noise making, including drumming and revelries, in Accra and environs, begins on May 23 20004, in preparation for the annual traditional Homowo Festival of Gas. Nii Adote Obuor II, Acting President of the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) announced the date on Monday, when Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia (Paramount Chief) of the Ho Asogli State, led a delegation of chiefs from the Asogli Traditional Council to pay courtesy call on the GTC, at the Ga Mantse Palace at Kaneshie in Accra.

The meeting, resplendent with traditional cultural performances from an Asogli Asafo, traditional war company, and drummers from the Ga State, was to introduce Togbe Afede, the Ga Traditional Council as the new head of the Asogli Traditional Council. It was also to make Togbe Afede, who partly resides in Accra for his secular work, known to the Ga Mantse (King), the traditional landlord of the nation's capital. Togbe Afede was chosen as the new head of the Asogli State six months ago.

Nii Obour welcomed the visit and said the Council was sure to arrange for the Asogli delegation to visit the Ga Paramount Chief, Nii Amugi. Nii Obour said the GTC had been trying to solve chieftaincy disputes in the State, but it had not been so successful, and added that with the introduction of the Alternative Disputes Resolution Mechanism, some of the issues could be settled "in the home" before they blew out. He urged the sub-chiefs and elders of the Ho Asogli States to give Togbe Afede their support, so that with unity and oneness, the two traditional councils could advance the wishes of their people, and also foster a relationship to their interest and benefit. Responding, Togbe Afede traced the historical bonds between the Asogli and the Ga and said he believed the Asogli had a lot to learn from the GTC. He said Gas had still maintained their traditions and culture despite the effects of the influx of various ethnic groups, industrialization and commercialisation.

Togbe Afede praised Gas for the hospitality, and condemned eyhnicity as the source of the many problems in Africa, pointing out that peace cannot be preserved without respect for one another. He said he was hopeful that the meeting would begin a process of collaboration between the two councils. The Asogli delegation presented four bottles of schnapp drink, a crate of beer, Guiness beer drink, and two crates of assorted soft drinks (minerals), along with one million cedi cash gift to Ga Mantse. Togbe Afede made a personal donation of four bottles of schnapp to the Ga Traditional Council.

Nii Kojo Ababio V, James Town Mantse, on behalf of the Ga Mantse Nii Amugi, thanked the Asogli delegation for the visit, and said, advice from the sub-chiefs to the Paramount Chief should be given in a cordial atmosphere. Among Togbe Afede's retinue were Prof Komla Amoako, Executive Director of the National Theatre and Mama Akua Dei, Paramount Queenmother of the Ho Asogli Traditional Area.