Court stops Ayi Bonte from lifting ban on drumming

Nii Ayi Bonte II, famously known as Tommy Okai, has been restrained from performing the ‘Odadao’ traditional customary rite to mark the lifting of the one-month ban on drumming and noise making in the Ga State.

The action follows a writ of summons filed in an Accra High Court by the Adonten of Ga State, Nii Okaija III.

According to sources close to the court, Nii Ayi Bonte II has been running away from the bailiff of the court for sometime now, until he was finally served on Wednesday June 7, 2017.

The plaintiff, Nii Okaidja III, is praying the court to restrain Nii Ayi Bonte from engaging in any traditional rituals including the ‘Odadao’ custom of the Gbese Royal Stool in Ga Mashie.

In his statement of claim, Nii Okaija III, through his Counsel, Mr. Ayikoi Otoo, wants a declaration by the High Court to set aside the order of Mandamus dated September, 25 2012, which ordered the insertion of the defendant, Nii Ayi Bonte’s, name into the National Register of Chiefs as having been obtained by fraud.

In the writ of summons dated Monday May 22, 2017, Nii Okaija III is also praying the court for an “…order directed against the National House of Chiefs to remove the defendant’s name from National Register of Chiefs forthwith.”

The former presiding judge also wants “any or further orders as to this Honourable court may deem fit.”

For the past nine years, Nii Ayi Bonte has been at the forefront performing the ritual of placing and lifting of the ban on drumming and noise making.

The one-month period is an annual event, which is a time of communion with the gods to seek favour for abundance of food and fish for the Homowo festival.

Meanwhile, this year’s Odadao rite was performed yesterday by the Ga Traditional Council.