‘You can’t force Christians to observe ban on drumming, noisemaking’ – Pastor

File photo: There's a ban on drumming and noise making by the Ga Traditional Council

A pastor has risen up against the annual ban on drumming and noise making by the Ga Traditional Council, describing it as “lawlessness” and a breach of Christians’ freedom to worship.

According to Reverend Samuel Korankye-Gary who is the General Overseer of the Glory Temple Charismatic Ministry, the observance of the ban by Christians would mean “indirectly paying homage to the gods or worshiping to idols which is against our faith and the teachings of Christ”.

He and his church have accordingly petitioned the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Kofi Dzamesi, to abolish the ban which is observed ahead Homowo Festival by the Ga people in Accra.

This year’s ban, which started Monday, May 8, will end June 8, 2017. During the period residents within the metropolis are required to bring their noise making to the brearest minimum failure.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has already set up a taskforce in place to ensure strict adherence to the one month ban, and anyone who flout is would be made to face sanctions. But pastor in his petition says “it does not auger well and does not make sense for Christians to be forced observe a festival which they don’t believe or is contrary to their faith”.

Rev. Korankye-Gary held that since Christians do not have the power to force traditionalists to share in the Christian faith, the traditionalists cannot also compel Christians to observe the ban in worship of their gods.

He said the practices which has gone on for far too long has to be stopped, and consequently pleaded with the Chieftaincy Ministry to abolish same “since it is against the freedom of Christians in Accra”.

“We plead with you and your ministry to act swiftly to avert any act of religious conflict in the country because the church is not going to tolerate that imposition of unacceptable faith on us any longer,” he stated in the petition which is copied to the Chief Justice, the Speaker of Parliament and the Ghana Bar Association.