Accra (Greater Accra) 17 May ?99

Churches in the Accra Metropolis on Sunday went about their activities without their usual drumming in apparent observance of the ban on drumming and noise making imposed by the Ga Traditional Council.

Churches visited by the Ghana News Agency included the True Vine Charismatic Church, near the Baiden Powel Hall, at the High Street, Holy Trinity Cathedral, High Street, Lighthouse Chapel International and Church of Pentecost, both at Korle-Gonno.

The others were Pentecostal Church International, Dansoman, Winners Chapel and Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Dansoman Asoredanho.

At the Korle-Gonno Lighthouse Chapel, officials of the church declined to talk to the GNA. A source close to the church, however, said that last year the church was at the centre of controversy surrounding the ban on drumming and so had decided not to drum at all this year.

"We did not drum but we will worship God because there is no prescribed method for the worship of the Lord," he said.

As at 1100 Hours, there were no reported cases of harassment by any group of persons in any of the churches visited.

Security personnel were also not seen at the premises of the churches but worshippers spoken to believed that the warning by the Police Administration against unlawful acts was being heeded.