Ga Traditional Council fails to show up at meeting on dumsor vigil

The meeting between the police and the organisers of the dumsor vigil ended inconclusively yesterday.

That was because representatives of the Ga Traditional Council failed to attend the meeting.

Instead, the council sent a message to the police that its members would be available for the meeting today because they had other engagements.

That notwithstanding, the police and the organisers used the opportunity to discuss issues concerning the planned vigil.

According to the organisers, the vigil would certainly come off as planned.

The only challenge, they said, was the venue where participants would converge for the start of the procession.

Sticky points 

The Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ms Affia Tenge, said the police were ready to meet the Ga Traditional Council to iron out sticky points in connection with the vigil.

The organisers of the vigil have run into difficulties because of objections raised by the Ga Traditional Council.

According to the council, the vigil would disturb the ban on drumming and noise-making.

The month-long ban on drumming and noise-making took effect from May 11, 2015 and is expected to end on June 11, 2015.

The celebrated rapper, Sarkodie, and actress Yvonne Nelson have scheduled May 16, 2015 to hold a vigil in support of a campaign to bring pressure on the government to end the power crisis.

The less-than-three-hour vigil is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. and end at the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange at about 6:30 p.m.

Turf war between two traditional councils

Following the declaration by the La Traditional Priest, Nii Yemoh Broni VII, that the area where the vigil would take place was in the jurisdiction of La, the Ga Traditional Council has stated that there is no legislative instrument backing Nii Broni’s claim.

The planned vigil has, therefore, ignited a turf war between the La Traditional Council and the Ga Traditional Council over who has control over lands in the area where the vigil is scheduled to take place.

Writer’s email: emelia.ennin@graphic.com