- The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has ordered the suspension of a Yam Festival scheduled by Igbo leader Eze Dr Amb Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu.
- The event was set to take place on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra.
- The Ga Traditional Council raised concerns over the cultural implications of hosting such a festival within Ga territory.
- The Council cited previous warnings to the Igbo chief to avoid staging traditional ceremonies that could be seen as importing foreign customs into the Ga State.
- Officials say the directive is aimed at preserving peace and preventing potential tensions between ethnic communities.
A planned Yam Festival by the Igbo community in Accra has been suspended following a directive from the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II. The festival, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, was to be hosted by Eze Dr Amb Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, the self-styled Igbo king in Ghana.
The Ga Traditional Council, in a formal statement, acknowledged receipt of an invitation to the event but expressed concern over its cultural implications. According to the Council, the ceremony disregarded an earlier caution issued to the Igbo leader, advising him against holding traditional festivities that could be interpreted as importing Igbo customs into Ga territory.
The Council emphasized that while Ghana is home to diverse ethnic groups, traditional rites and festivals must be handled with sensitivity to local customs and authority structures. It warned that such activities, if not properly coordinated, could spark unnecessary tension and threaten the peace and security of the region.
The suspension comes amid growing calls for inter-ethnic respect and dialogue, especially in cosmopolitan areas like Accra where cultural boundaries often overlap. While the Igbo community has long celebrated its heritage in Ghana, the directive signals a need for clearer protocols when staging public cultural events within host jurisdictions.
As of now, the festival remains suspended, and no alternative date has been announced. Both parties are expected to engage in further dialogue to resolve the matter amicably.
