Cultural Standoff Unfolds in Accra Over Igbo New Yam Festival  

Accra ,Ghana – September 20,2025 - A cultural flashpoint is emerging in Accra as the Ga Traditional Council fiercely protests the planned Igbo New Yam Festival, slated for September 21, 2025, at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park. 

The event now faces opposition from the Ga Traditional Council despite being a decade-long tradition in Ghana, organized by Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu,a leader within Ghana’s Igbo community, has been a long-standing tradition in Ghana, celebrated annually for over a decade attracting dignitaries from Ghana and Nigeria.

The Council views the upcoming festival as a direct challenge to its authority, citing concerns that it could disrupt peace and security within the Ga State. According to the Council’s Registrar Evelyn Amewotse, the planned celebration disregards a previous press release dated July 9, 2025, which cautioned Eze Ihenetu against holding cultural and traditional festivities that seek to introduce Igbo traditions into the Ga State.

Evelyn Amewotse noted the planned event disregards this warning and may set a dangerous precedent, leading to future tensions.

The New Yam Festival, or Iri Ji, is a significant cultural event that marks the end of the farming season and the beginning of a new harvest cycle. It features rituals, feasting on yams, traditional music, and masquerade dances, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people.

The Ga Traditional Council's objection has sparked concerns about cultural tolerance and coexistence in Accra. With the festival's fate hanging in the balance, stakeholders are anxiously awaiting the outcome, which may have far-reaching implications for cultural celebrations in Ghana.

The Ga Traditional Council has formally petitioned the relevant authorities to intervene and halt the festival. King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II has directed the Council to seek assistance in putting the program to a halt as soon as possible, underscoring the seriousness of the issue.

Source - Lead News Online/Shiela Amerley Biala

Read below the detailed press statement issued by the Ga Traditional Council;