The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng has called for cultural diversity and inter tribe relationship to promote our culture to the rest of the world. He also called for co-existence among other tribes, however he urged the people of Great Accra to remain United as they kick start their festivities.

He said this brought him close to tradition and urged anybody who does not understand anything about our traditions and cultures to draw closely to the elders for explanation.

Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng said this when he joined the Chiefs and people of Nungua in the Greater Accra Region on 26^th May 2024, to re-enact a journey from Oyibi to Nungua on foot to bring home a sacred maize to pave way for the annual Homowo festival.  He is the first Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs of government to join in this year’s sacred maize rites.

 Background:

The annual pilgrimage marks the re-enactment of the journey from Egypt by the Ga Dangbe people, when the land of Israel was hit by a severe famine during the days of Jacob in the Bible.

The annual pilgrimage to Oyibi ahead of the annual Homowo festival is to bring a sacred corn which paves way for the Gadangme people to celebrate the Homowo festival.

Oral Tradition says the Gadangme people were also in Egypt with the Jews made away with some of the seeds and planted them anywhere they settled during their migration. The final place it was planted is Oyibi near Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

The Pilgrims walk barefooted from Oyibi to Nungua carrying the corn in white calico followed by another man carrying twelve sticks and other twelve men holding sticks representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

The pilgrims walk from Oyibi, through Katamanso, Santeo, Borteyman through the Motorway and Spitex and finally arrive in Nungua.

During the Journey several rites are being performed at places like Onyaa Akua, Katamanso where the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo who is now the Regent of Katamanso performed his rites.

Others includes Santeo, and then Batsonaa where bells were placed on the feet of the carrier of the corn. Some chiefs who performed the various rites have this to say.

As the pilgrims get closer, the number of people hailing them increases. At Nungua, hundreds of people gathered to welcome them until the Overlord of the Gadangme state then receive the maize finally.

The maize is then sprinkled around various shrines representing all the various Gadangme communities. This follows eight weeks ban on funerals and associated rites for the Homowo Festivitival.

This year’s festivity rites was very peaceful as all feuding factions came together to celebrate the Abelewomo rites. The chief of Nungua, Nii Odaifio Welentsi called for unity and development for Nungua and the entire Ga State. He has an eight week ban on funerals and associated rites has been imposed hence all those living in Nungua should adhere to it.

After today’s festivities, a ban has been placed on funerals and associated rites in Nungua and its environs given six weeks for the celebration of the annual Kplejoo/Homowo celebrations.