The Acting President of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Adote Obuor II and the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Nii Adjiri Blankson have jointly communicated to the media, the preparations they are making towards the celebrations of this year's Homowo.

Below is an excerpt of a letter they jointly circulated to the media last Friday.

"I gladly wish to inform you of the commencement of festivities for Homowo 2004. As you may well know, the Homowo festival is the annual celebration of the traditions, customs and raison d'etre of people of Accra.

In collaboration with the Agcting President of Ga Traditional Council, we enjoin all residents of Accra and indeed all Ghanaians to celebrate with us in our moment of joy.

This year will mark the commencement of a determined drive to raise the profile of the Homowo festival into that of an internationally recognizable occasion.

The program for this year will include traditional customary rites, cultural and sports events, public seminars, children's parties, workshops as well as specially packaged media presentations.

However, the high point of the festivities for this year will be a Grand Durbar of chiefs, queen mothers and traditional authorities of Accra at the Ga Mantse's Palace. His Excellency the President, John Agyekum Kufuor will be the guest of honor.

Also in attendance will be Ministers of State and prominent members of government, the Diplomatic Corps, high profile personalities from the private sector as well as heads of major religious and civil organisations."