Traditionalists attack churches

Accra (Greater Accra), 11 May ?99 ?

A group of angry elders and young men suspected to be followers of traditional religion were alleged to have ransacked some churches in parts of the Accra Metropolis on Sunday afternoon for ostensibly defying the ban on drumming recently imposed by the Ga Traditional Council as a prelude to the celebration of the Ga Homowo Festival.

The three busloads of angry traditionalists, armed with clubs and other dangerous weapons, were said to have stormed some churches, including the Church of Pentecost, Dansoman, and beaten up some members of the congregation.

Sources close to the church said the thugs seized church instruments, packed them into waiting vehicles and drove off.

Earlier on Sunday, a number of churches in the Accra metropolis drummed and danced in defiance of the ban imposed by the Ga Traditional Council to usher in their annual Homowo festival.

In another development, the Accra Regional Police are investigating the activities of a group of people, who attacked a number of churches in Accra last Friday and Sunday apparently to enforce the ban on drumming.

The attacks occurred at James Town and Kwashieman areas with the group seizing a number of items from the churches.

Mr Peter Nkelebie, Deputy Regional Police Commander, said the action of the group amounted to stealing and disturbance of public peace.

Mr Nkelebie said plans are underway to invite the Chief Wulomo (Priest) for a discussion to help retrieve the items.

Giving details about the attacks, Mr Nkelebie said around 2000 hours on Friday, three Wulomei and 15 young men using a VW bus attacked the James Town Assemblies of God Church, where the worshippers were using an organ but not drums.

They seized items including a set of drums, two guitars and four amplifiers.

Mr Nkelebie said between 1100 and 1300 hours on Sunday, a mob numbering about 80 attacked two charismatic churches at Kwashieman and Awoshie during church service and made away with a number of items. Some members of the congregation were injured in the process.

At the Kwashieman Word Harvest Church, the mob assaulted some members and forcibly took away a pair of conga drums and two speakers.

The Deputy Commander said the scene at Awoshie Victory Church International was no different - the mob using about six private cars attacked worshippers and seized items including three speakers.

Some church members got hurt and were sent to hospital. No arrest has been made in all the cases but Police investigation continues.