The chiefs and people of Ga Mashie in Accra celebrated their annual Homowo festival on Saturday, amid the sprinkling of ‘kpokpoi,’ the traditional food of the Gas, drumming and the firing of muskets. Indeed, it was a moment of joy and fanfare as many households at Ga Mashie spent the day busily preparing kpokpoi and palm soup for the festivities.
The Ga Mashie people are made up of Asere, Akumajeiy, Gbese, Otublohum, Sempe, Ngleshie Alata (James Town) and Abola.
This observance of this year’s Homowo by the Ga Mashie, was preceded by the celebration of the yam festival for twins, dubbed “Yee-Yee-Yee,” on August 5. This year’s Homowo, observed in peace, was a memorable as the chiefs and some celebrants, clad in red, took turns to sprinkle kpokpoi and poured libation at sacred places and residences. The event attracted a large number of Gas, including those living in Glidgi in Togo. The Nai Wulomo (Chief Priest) of the Ga Traditional Area, Nuumo Akwah Mensah III, was the first to sprinkle the traditional food, followed by other chiefs.
The Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayibonte II, led his elders to sprinkle kpokpoi at the Ussher Fort, a heritage site where the remains of some chiefs and elders of the Ga Stool are believed to be kept. Nii Adama Latse II, the Ga Mantse, sprinkled the traditional food at the Abola Stool House and later at various homes and sacred places. The chief appealed to all Gas to vote peacefully in the forthcoming election, saying “Ghana is for all of us and we have no place to go should there be any trouble.”
He wished the people long life and prosperity, and assured them of development and progress during his reign as Ga Mantse. Meanwhile, the Osu Traditional Council is to set up a tourism management committee to improve on the tourism potential of the area and create jobs for the citizens.
The committee would receive directions from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts and the Ghana Tourism Authority as it carries out its duties. The Paramount Chief of the Osu Traditional Area and President of the Osu Traditional Council, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, announced this at the launch of this year’s Homowo Festival for the people of Osu in Accra, on theme “Tourism, a key component in community development.”
He explained that the move aimed at broadening the focus of the celebration of Homowo to showcase the tourism potential of the area to both local and foreign participants. Nii Dowuona said activities earmarked for the celebration of the week-long festival, included a Homowo lecture, a health walk, health-screening and clean-up exercises, a cooking contest, a homecoming event and a Miss Osu contest. The celebration will be climaxed on September 4, 2016, with a church service at the Osu Presbyterian Church. He said Osu had a lot to showcase for tourism promotion and job creation, such as the Klottey Shrine and the Royal Mausoleum.
“Osu is also blessed to have the seat of government on its land, notably the State House and Parliament House, as well as the Christiansborg Castle, the Accra International Conference Centre, the Accra Sports Stadium, among others. We must take advantage of the exposure these edifices bring to develop the area,.” Nii Dowunahe said. Nii Dowuona appealed to companies operating in the area to support the traditional council in its bid to enhance the living conditions of the people, and urged the residents to work in unity and ensure that peace prevailed for a successful Homowo Festival.
The festival has historical, religious, social, economical, cultural, moral political development significance to the people. The merriment begins with the sowing of millet by traditional priests in May, after which a 30 -day ban on drumming and noise making is imposed on the Ga traditional area by the traditional authorities. The festival is highlighted at varying times by different groups of the Ga ethnic group.
Homowo recounts the migration of the Gas and reveals their agricultural success in their new settlement, and according to oral tradition, a severe famine broke out among the people during their migration, to present day Accra. The Gas were inspired by the famine to embark on massive food production, which eventually yielded them bumper harvest, and when the famine ended, with great joy they “hooted at hunger,” which is the meaning of the word Homowo.
By George Agyemang-GhanaQuest.com
