Commissioner

Accra, April 27, GNA - The Ghana Police Service would not tolerate lawlessness on the part of any individual or group of persons during this year's ban on drumming and noisemaking in the Ga Traditional Area.

The Ga Traditional Council has announced that this year's ban, which ushers in the Homowo Festival of the Chief and People, would begin on May 3 and end on June 3 2004.

The Police said it would not sit idle for anybody or groups to do whatever they wanted and thereby disrupt the peace during the period.

The Greater-Accra Regional Police Commander and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Kofi Boakye gave the warning when Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I. C. Quaye and the Mayor of Accra, Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson jointly paid a courtesy call on members of the Ga Traditional Council on Tuesday.

ACP Boakye said the Police was there to ensure peace and order in society and warned that anybody, who created or caused chaos and havoc during the period of the ban, would face the full rigours of the law. He stressed that the Police Administration would not allow any eventualities to happen before taking action, adding that the Service would not sit unconcerned for people, especially the youth, who had taken the law into their own hands for far too long to destroy life and property.

Mr Blankson, formally introduced himself to the Council, called on the Council to give its support to the exercise to clear the city of filth, saying that the workload of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) was a heavy one.

Nii Adote Obour II, Sempe Mantse, and Acting President of the Council said the ban on drumming should be strictly observed to ensure a peaceful and successful celebration of the festival.

He called on Ghanaians to comport themselves for peace to prevail before, during and after Election 2004, since Ghana could not afford to repair the damage that conflicts may cause.

He urged the youth to be humble, respectful and sober in all their endeavours.

Later Sheikh Quaye and Mr Blankson presented a carton of schnapps and two million cedis to the Council.