Government’s explanation on Independence Day traditional prayer is not tenable- Ga Damgbe Youth

Government’s explanation on why the pouring of libation has been exempted from the Independent Day has not gone down well with the Ga -Damgbe Youth. Since the assumption of the NDC administration headed by President John Mills, the traditional process has been missing in all national events especially independence. The recent 55th independence celebration was no exception, with government machinery citing the Ga chieftaincy disputes as reason for the omission. However, the Ga Damgbe youth will not accept this explanation. Its vice president, Nii Maama Maakwei told Xfm 95.1 the act has been deliberate. “Last year when we raised this issue, they said it was a mistake; that it would be done this year. Today, they are talking about dispute, he fumed, adding that the explanation cannot be tenable because the traditional priesthood, which is responsible for the prayers is battling with no dispute. “In terms of prayers, it is done by the traditional priests; the chiefs have nothing to do with the prayers. Within the priesthood, there is no dispute”, Nii Maama had said.

He describes the action by the ruling government as hypocrisy since President John Mills continues to “sleep at the castle with the shrines”, but has a problem with the traditional prayers.

“The Osu Castle has a lot of shrines that the people go there yearly for their rituals; especially when it is homowo in Accra, they open the Castle gate and the traditional authorities go to springle their kpokpoi and do their rituals. So if the shrines are there and you are sleeping with them, you are comfortable; but when it is done for the traditional prayers to be done at the national ceremony, you say you are not comfortable? he quizzed.

He said ?if the President believes that he does not want to have anything to do with the traditional people he should be bold enough to tell every Ghanaian that from hence forth when it comes to national celebrations traditionalists are out and that am only dealing with the Christians and the Muslims?. “We are the only race that ahs turned down on our own people; black people are the only people who do not identify themselves with their tradition. That is why on Independence Day, you see the president wearing a suit”, he added He threatened the Ga Damgbe will vote against the NDC government is one “that do not respect our tradition”.