[ 2017-05-11 ]

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

Source - 3news.com

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