Incorporate Traditional Rites into National Day of Prayer - Ga Mantse
Accra, Ghana - June 5, 2025 - The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has urged the planning committee for the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving to incorporate traditional rites and customs into the event, scheduled for July 1, 2025.
During a courtesy call by the committee at the Palace on June 4, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II emphasized the significance of Ghana's traditional spiritual practices, particularly those of the Ga people, in maintaining national peace and identity.
The Ga Mantse expressed concern that the committee's plans seemed to overlook traditional elements, which are often misunderstood as "fetish" practices. He highlighted the importance of rituals such as the ban on noise-making before Homowo, a traditional Ga festival, which reflects a period of fasting and reverence for the land and its ancestral spirits.
“The traditional setting has not been included [in the National Day of Prayer]. There are things we do on this land that nobody knows, but these are things that have held the pinnacle of the four corners of this country, especially Ga being the capital''.
The Ga Mantse drew parallels between traditional practices and those of other faiths, pointing out that Lent precedes Easter and fasting precedes Ramadan. He suggested that a similar period of silence and thanksgiving to the spirits and forefathers of the land could be observed before the Christian service on the National Day of Prayer.
“What might surprise you is that before every Easter, there’s a Lent, before every Ramadan, there’s a fast. Before every Homowo, there’s a ban to create silence; people have constrained it to be a fetish or others. It’s a period where we fast… I will urge the committee that even preceding the Christian service at 8 am, earlier before that time, there’s a Thanksgiving to the spirits and the forefathers of this land, because that is essential, it cannot be complete without that,” he stated.
The Planning Committee Chairman, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, assured the Ga Mantse that his suggestions would be taken into account. "We've heard your views, and we'll report back after discussing with those who tasked us," Ankrah said.
Source: Lead News Online
