Accra: King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, has called for sustained collaboration between the Government and the chiefs and people of the Ga State to address challenges confronting the communities and promote development. He emphasized that such collaboration is essential for mobilizing the required resources and expertise to tackle pressing developmental challenges and improve the living conditions of the people.
According to Ghana News Agency, King Teiko Tsuru made this call during the climax of the Homowo Festival at the Ga Mantse Stool Palace on Saturday, where he hosted numerous dignitaries. The government delegation was led by Madam Linda Akweley Ocloo, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, and Mr. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive. King Teiko Tsuru urged stakeholders to work together in the spirit of unity and shared responsibility to accelerate development and ensure sustainable progress across the Ga State.
"I urge that we continue to deepen the collaboration and bring absolute development and growth to our people," he stated. "It behoves all of us to work for the growth of the Ga State and Ghana as a whole, and so I call for continuous unity and understanding amongst the traditional authorities and the government to achieve this goal."
King Teiko Tsuru also noted the peaceful celebration of Homowo and commended the Ghana Police Service for their professionalism in maintaining order throughout the festivities. He urged the Service to enhance its security operations to ensure the continued peaceful celebration of Homowo across the Greater Accra Region. "The cost of peace is expensive, and we must celebrate the festival devoid of any hostilities," the Ga Mantse said.
Nii Armarh Okpah II, Chief of Agbogbloshie and Acting Chief of the Gbese Traditional Area, one of the six paramountcies under the Ga State, encouraged the natives of Gbese to prioritize education for their children. He highlighted that educating the younger generation is essential for securing the future, growth, development, and progress of the traditional area and the Ga State in general.
The Homowo Festival is an annual harvest celebration held by the people of the Greater Accra Region to commemorate a period of extreme famine and celebrate a subsequent bountiful harvest. The word 'Homowo' means 'hooting at hunger' in the Ga Language, reflecting the festival's historical significance as a celebration of the Ga people's victory over famine and hardship.
The annual festival is characterized by traditional practices, including a period of prohibition on noise-making, the preparation of the traditional dish, Kpokpoi, and its sprinkling in the streets and homes. The ritual sprinkling of Kpokpoi is performed as an offering and remembrance of the ancestors and spirits, acknowledging their role in the history and wellbeing of the Ga State.
Beyond its historical and spiritual significance, Homowo serves as an important expression of Ga cultural identity, bringing families and communities together to celebrate their shared heritage. The festival symbolizes gratitude for survival, unity among the people, and triumph over adversity, while providing an opportunity for younger generations to learn about and preserve their cultural traditions.
For many Ga people, therefore, Homowo is not merely a festival but a period of reflection, thanksgiving, and communal renewal, during which the past is remembered, cultural values are reaffirmed, and hope for a prosperous future is expressed.