Accra, June 12, GNA - Miss Vivian Ankrah, Greater Accra Women Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the authorities to ensure that the peaceful observance of the customary rites preceding the celebration of the annual Homowo festival of the Ga Dangme people.

Speaking to the GNA in an interview on Sunday, at the Sakumo Wulomo's palace at Bukom in Accra, she said the annual observance of the sacred silence period or "Nmaa Dumo" does not interfere with the freedom of worship as alleged by some religious bodies.

Miss Ankrah who led the NDC women's Wing to presented 12 creates of eggs, four bottle of schnapps and 500,000 cedis to the Sakumo Wulomo for purification rites following the attack on him by law enforcement agencies, said in spite of the patient efforts by government over the years to eliminate misunderstandings about the rights of Ga Dangme people, some churches have started beating the war drums. Mr Nii Tackie Komme, NDC MP for Odododiodioo, said traditional religion had for many years co-existed with Christianity and other religion, adding that, all that period the Ga Dangme annual observance of silence had never been violated.

Mr Komme expressed surprise that the Police would try to prevent the performance of traditional rites preceding the Homowo festivities of the Ga people.

Numo Ogbamey III said the Ga Dangmes had the right to manifest their custom and religion in their own land as other people. He said, "The opponents of our religion have curiously never addressed the question of whether it is appropriate that other Ghanaians should celebrate customs similar to the one they were attacking in Accra".

Numo Ogbamey appealed to the authorities and opinion leaders to advice the Churches not to interfere with the performance of ancient rites for the celebration of the Homowo festival.