Ga Traditional Council Warns CAC

... hints at bloodshed

The Ga Traditional Council (GTC) has warned that it would engage the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in a bloody fight if the church goes on with its intention to have some Ga youth imprisoned.

According to Reverend Odonkor, who is Regent to the Teshie stool, the CAC is using every foul means to influence the court's decision to have the Ga youth, who were arrested last year during the clash between some traditionalists and the CAC when the church allegedly violated the annual ban on drumming.

Reverend Odonkor gave the threat when members of the GTC met with the Greater Accra Coordinating Council behind camera in Accra.

The meeting was not open to press, but Chronicle sources that were present hinted this reporter about events.

Later after the meeting, Reverend Odonkor confirmed in an interview that seven Ga youth were arrested during the melee and that the case has been adjourned to April 10, this year.

When asked about his threat, he said in fact they would not sit down for their children to be wrongly jailed.

Just after meeting with members of the GTC, the Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, held a press confrence and explained that the meeting was part of efforts by Government to ensure a violent-free society during the annual ban on drumming of the Ga traditional area.

An earlier meeting was held with the religious bodies.

According to Sheik Ibrahim C. Quaye, a five-member committee known as the Greater Accra Permanent Conflict Resolution and Management Committee has been put in place and has been working since April last year.

The committee, he said, comprises Professor Mike Oquaye, Her Lordship Hon. Justice Ivy Ashong-Yakubu, Mr. Kofi Brapui Asante., Dr. E.O.T Prempeh and Hon. George Isaac Amoo.

He said the committee deals with all conflicts bordering on Chieftaincy, land, religion and customary practices in the region.

"Our aim is to tackle the problem of conflict management and resolution on a permanent basis by building bridges and linkages," he stressed.

Touching on noise nuisance that has become the bane of some citizens, the Regional Minister said to normalize the situation, the police have now decided to enforce the existing laws and AMA regulations, in co-operation with officers of AMA.

He said the committee has, against this background, decided that the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the police, National Commission on Civic Education and the Environmental Protection Agency should embark on an education campaign before vigorous action is taken to enforce the existing laws and regulations.

He explained that after series of discussion with the permanent committee they came to a conclusion that the imposition of restrictions on the normal rights of citizens was not restricted to the Ga Traditional area, adding that it has assumed national proportions because Accra is the capital and has become home to many who are not Gas.

Dr. K.K. Manfo, Regional Police commander, who was present, explained unambiguously that "there are some problems you can't control like disturbances at the stadium" but stressed that the police would enforce the law during the ban on drumming.

Pestered with further questions from curious journalists, he said he did not foresee a situation where traditionalists will go to the stadium and create a scene in their attempt to control noise, stressing that in case they do that the police will prevent them because as much as they would want their custom respected, they are not law enforcers.

"There's a monitoring team that will do that," he said, and added rather cautiously that "you can't stop people from jubilating if their team should win a football match."

The Regional Minister buttressed Dr. Marfo's statement by adding that the traditional authorities have agreed not to enforce the law themselves, bearing in mind that some rogue elements would take advantage and misbehave.