Naa Affipong IV, Ngleshie Alata Manye (Paramount Queenmother James Town)
Ngleshie Manye Naa Affipong IV has called on the Council of State, Peace Council and Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to intervene in the recent scuffles and killings that marred this year’s Homowo festival. It’s a call to action that combines with promotion for cultural pride, self-criticism, and a plea for unity in Ga Mashie, Teshie and Omanjor, all in Greater Accra.
In her press statement, paramount queenmother of James Town stated that, Homowo Festival is the most important festival of the GaDangme people, celebrating a historic victory over famine. The period is meant to be sacred, involving rituals, remembrance, and peaceful celebration. She directly addresses the violence that sometimes mars the Homowo festival. By “killing each other” and “shedding blood” during a sacred period meant for remembrance and thanksgiving (sprinkling Kpoikpoi or “holy corn”), and wondered why a community would defile its own most important traditions. Violence during this time is seen as a profound desecration and sacrilegious act.
Naa Affipong IV, Ngleshie Manye saw the violence as not for justice and fairness, but consequences of division among GaDaŋme. She laments that “GaDaŋme is so divided,” internal wrangling that weakens their collective standing and makes it impossible to present a unified front that commands reverence. It’s the reason why Ga-Dangme people having been foundational to the development of Ghana (specifically, the capital city, Accra) are loosing wealth and government see no obligation to pay back. She called for Internal reconciliation as primacy for self-respect. a debt of gratitude.
In a brilliant rhetorical move, Naa Affipong IV said, “non-Ga-Dangmes will have no problems in respecting GaDaŋme customs because our forefathers earned that through their contributions to the development of this country and because our traditions have inherent value. We must first maintain that respect by cleaning our own house. We must end the senseless violence during Homowo, unite, and uphold the dignity of our own traditions. Only then can we rightfully demand respect and reverence to our customs from others.”You cannot demand that others honor your culture if you do not honor it yourself.
Her statement was not just powerful and poignant but a defense of endangered cultural heritage. As a leader and paramount Queen Mother (Manye), Naa Affipong IV is fulfilling her traditional role as a custodian of culture, a moral authority, and a unifier. She was not just commenting from the sidelines; she was issuing a directive to her people to look inward, correct course and a return to core values.
Ending with the phrase “BE THY BROTHER’S KEEPER” she invoked a biblical and Pan-African ethics of mutual care as a prescription for healing, unity, mutual care, and delight in each other’s welfare,
that appeal to the fundamental communal values that are at the heart of Ga-Dangme and many African societies.
