THE chiefs and people of Ga-Dangme have been ushered into their annual festival, Homowo, which marks the celebration of their fortitude against hunger and external aggression centuries ago.
Homowo, which literally means hooting at hunger, is, therefore, a unique occasion that brings together Ga-Dangmes across the country and their kinsmen beyond the shores of Ghana, stretching as far as Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Congo.
The customs and traditions displayed during the festival, as well as the special festive food, 'kpokpoi', prepared on the occasion, have provided some basis for linking the history of the Gas to the biblical exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
Indeed, over the years, Homowo has become one of the most enduring and famous festivals celebrated in the country and attracts thousands of non-Gas to witness and partake in it.
It is, however, sad that for the past few decades, the annual celebration of Homowo has been largely characterised by rivalry and conflict among rival claimants to chieftaincy titles.
This has resulted from the numerous chieftaincy disputes that have plagued Gas, thereby tainting the sanctity, significance, beauty and aura of unity that the festival evokes.
In some instances, the chieftaincy disputes have resulted in bloody clashes between various factions during the celebration of Homowo and the animosity has often been harboured throughout the rest of the year.
There is no doubt that these chieftaincy disputes have had a huge negative impact on the development of the Ga State and, to some extent, the progress of the people. The chieftaincy institution in the Ga State has also lost a great deal of its respect and dignity in the eyes of the local and the international community.
It is to restore the respect and dignity of the Ga State that the DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the chiefs and people to use this year's celebration of Homowo to reflect soberly on the cost of these conflicts, bury their differences and endeavour to resolve all chieftaincy disputes.
We believe that the chieftaincy disputes in the Ga State are not intractable and that it is possible for the people, as one big family, to sit down at a common table, as enjoined by Homowo, to iron out their differences.
Homowo is an occasion to foster peace, unity and tranquillity, while invoking divine blessings and prosperity on the land and the people in the years ahead.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, wishes to take this opportunity to admonish the chiefs and people of the Ga State to give true meaning to the significance of Homowo by smoking the peace pipe and giving peace a chance.
The elders of the Ga State, particularly those who have taken entrenched positions and/or continually stoke the fire, must bear in mind that the collective interest of the people in respect of development is paramount over their individual parochial interests.
Again, they must also reckon that as elders of the state, they owe a great deal of responsibility to the children of today and posterity for which singular reason they must bury their differences.
The DAILY GRAPHIC thinks the people of the Ga State and, indeed, all Ghanaians, have had enough of the chieftaincy disputes, and strongly believes that the celebration of Homowo should be the rallying point for them to surrender to peace.
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