Firing of muskets at traditional functions

As a people, we are communal by nature; sociocultural festivities are akin to phases of life.

Be it naming ceremonies, marriage ceremonies, funerals, enstooling or enskinning of traditional rulers, etc.

These festivities are marked by some traditions bequeathed to us by our ancestors: drumming, dancing, and firing muskets.

Depending on the culture of the traditional area and the function, these festivities may be joyous, like enstooling or enskinning a traditional ruler, or sorrowful, like a funeral.  

One main feature of our traditional festivities that transcends most, if not all, cultures in the country is the firing of muskets.

Muskets are fired during funerals and the enstooling or enskinning of traditional rulers.

The muskets are fired to herald the arrival of a traditional ruler during enstoolments or the departure of loved ones during funerals. 

The traditional Asafo group, who are the warriors of the traditional area, display their dexterity with weaponry during these festivities.

At a time when modern police and national security have taken over the role of securing the nation as a whole, these traditional functions remain the only avenue for the Asafo groups to display their flair and marksmanship with weaponry.

The display of the Asafo groups during traditional festivities enhances our culture and adds a lot to our culture, which promotes tourism.

Recent occurrences at Nungua and Dorma should alert us to reconsider the act of firing muskets and other weaponry during our traditional festivities.

In the case of Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, the celebrant, Lawrencia Naa Borley Nelson, the late (Naa Gamu) succumbed to a stray bullet on her thigh.

What hitherto should have been her outdooring and installation became her day of demise. 

There is also the case of Kofi Adoma, a social media content creator who was hit in the eye during a Kwafie Festival in the Dorma Traditional Area.

Kofi Adoma was lucky to survive the bullet, but he needed a miracle to regain his sight.

Culture is dynamic, and we should adapt it to suit modern-day trends and reality.

The Asafo groups of the traditional areas do not receive any formal training in weaponry.

There is hardly a system put in place to ensure they are emotionally and psychologically fit to possess weapons during traditional festivities, not to mention systems to account for rounds of ammunition in their possession, as well as emergency response plans during accidents like what happened at Nugua and Dorma.

Who knows if an effective emergency response plan would have saved Naa Gamu’s life?

I appeal to all stakeholders, that is, the National House of Chiefs, Local Government, Tourism ministries and Parliament to re-consider the firing of live bullets during our traditional festivities.

At a time when technology has endowed us with less harmful options like rubber bullets, why the use of live bullets?

This will keep our traditional festivities safe and appealing to local and international tourists. 

Cyril Mawuli Asare,
P. O. Box CT 10890,
Accra.
E-mail: Cyril.mawuli@gmail.com