Ewulu Nii Adjei Klu, Senior Manager at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and author of Kusum Gboo, has called on Ga indigenes across the country and abroad to make conscious efforts to participate in this year’s Homowo festival.
Speaking at a cultural lecture in Tema, he stressed that Homowo is not a fetish ritual but a sacred heritage that celebrates the Ga people’s triumph over famine and preserves their ancestral identity.
According to him, participation in the festival provides an opportunity for Ga natives to reconnect with their families, seek blessings from elders, and reconcile broken relationships.
“Just as the Israelites travel home to observe Passover, so must every Ga native make it a duty to return home for Homowo,” he said, adding that the period of Yakanyoo—when traditional work is suspended—was designed for communal reflection and thanksgiving.
Mr. Klu advised Ga natives working outside Accra or living abroad to plan ahead by setting aside funds and arranging their work schedules so they can attend the celebrations. He also traced the migration of the Ga-Dangme people from biblical Israel through Sudan, Nigeria, and Togo before settling along the coast of present-day Ghana, noting that their traditions continue to reflect biblical parallels.
He explained that Homowo, meaning “hooting at hunger,” commemorates the end of famine and marks a season of renewal, purification, and thanksgiving to both God and the ancestors.
Mr. Klu further encouraged non-Ga residents in Accra and surrounding areas to respect and support the festival rather than dismissing it as fetish, noting that it is part of Ghana’s rich cultural diversity.
Abraham Adjei Tawiah, President of the Tema Youth Association, said the educational campaign on Homowo was aimed at helping both natives and non-natives to appreciate the festival’s cultural and spiritual essence. He stressed that the involvement of the youth was crucial to preserving Ga traditions for future generations.
Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Member of Parliament for Tema East, highlighted the broader significance of festivals in strengthening social systems, preserving customs, and promoting tourism. He described Homowo as an opportunity to instill cultural pride among the youth while contributing to local development.
The speakers collectively urged Ga natives everywhere to view Homowo not only as a festival but as a cultural duty and homecoming that binds families, promotes unity, and sustains the legacy of the Ga people.
