Ghana’s vibrant cultural festivals, once a symbol of unity and celebration, have taken a dark turn in recent years.
The streets that were once filled with laughter and music have become battlegrounds, claiming lives and leaving many more injured.
The recent trends have raised concerns about the safety and security of these events, with many questioning how these tragedies can be prevented.
Truly, the misuse of firearms has been a significant contributor to these tragic incidents. Most celebrants often discharge firearms during festivals despite warnings from authorities.
The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has constantly been condemning the use of live ammunition during festivals, citing the grave risks it poses.
Dr. Adam Bonaa, Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, in one of his interviews, stressed the need for a national culture of safety and responsibility around firearms.
Recent festivals marred by violence
- Homowo 2025
The Homowo festival, which means “hooting at hunger”, celebrated by the Ga people of Ghana, witnessed some chaos in some parts of the country this year.
This festival honours the ancestors’ victory over hunger and features traditional rituals like sprinkling a traditional maize meal called “Kpokpoi” as an offering and includes music, dance, and community gatherings.
This well-known festival is celebrated by the people of Ga Mashie, La, Osu, Teshie, Nungua, and Tema, as well as others in the wider GaDangme people area, like Kpone, Dawhenya, and Prampram.
- Teshie Homowo Festival
Unfortunately, the Homowo festival at Teshie was marred by tragedy as three people lost their lives, leaving others injured following a violent clash during the sprinkling of kpokpoi to mark the 2025 Homowo celebrations.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the Chief’s Palace in Lenshie, near the Manjaanor Shrine, when two rival factions clashed.
The deceased were identified as Patrick Marmah Martey, 27; Christopher Osekre Adjetey, 29, and Eddie Blessing.
The Teshie Police District Commander, Chief Superintendent Vincent Adotey, speaking on the incident, said the violence broke out around 1:30 p.m. when the Paramount Chief, Gbetsorlor Nii Akonfra III, and his entourage were returning to the palace after performing the traditional kpokpoi sprinkling rites at various locations in the town.
According to him, after the Paramount Chief and his elders retired into the palace, some of their supporters remained outside.
Shortly after, the Atofoatse, Nii Dzata, and his followers also arrived at the palace to perform their own sprinkling but were vehemently prevented by supporters of the Paramount Chief.
This led to chaos involving the hurling of stones and bottles, and eventually, the firing of gunshots.
Chief Superintendent Adotey explained that, before the sacred ritual, a Municipal Security Committee meeting had agreed that chiefs of the various clans within the Teshie enclave should restrict the sprinkling of kpokpoi to their respective clan houses to prevent confrontation, given past incidents.
However, Atofoatse Nii Dzata defied the directive, arguing that there was a deity at the Palace, known as Naa Yoomo, to whom he was duty-bound to offer the kpokpoi.
This sparked a confrontation between his supporters and those of the Paramount Chief, culminating in an exchange of gunfire.
“Although calm was restored hours later, several people were injured, with those in critical conditions rushed to the LEKMA Hospital and the Family Health Hospital,” he said.
“Later, I received a call from the Administrator of the Lekma Hospital that families of some of the victims were disturbing the treatment process, so I, together with the District Crime Officer, ASP Kofi Attimbiri, and Divisional Crime Officer, Supt. Kartey Otumi went there to disperse the crowd,” he added.
“We proceeded to the emergency ward to see the patients receiving treatments. One of the victims, who was in a critical condition and was rushed to the theatre for surgery, passed on.
“Later in the day, we had information that two of the victims at the Family Health Hospital had also died,” he stated.
- Sowutuom Clash
Another violent incident broke out during the Homowo festival at Anyaa-Sowutuom on Saturday, August 30, 2025, leading to the death of three people.
The deceased persons include Abubakar Ramadan Sarbah, Theophilus Nii Amu Kwadjan, and Joseph Shaibu Dodo.
The incident erupted after some residents from Dwenewoho tried to sprinkle ‘Kpokpoi’, a traditional food essential to the festival, in Sowutuom. This move was met with resistance from local traditional leaders.
The disagreement escalated swiftly, resulting in heavy gunfire.
“After the Chelsea game, we heard gunshots from the junction. For almost 30 minutes, bullets were flying everywhere.
“The Sowutuom people insisted Dwenewoho couldn’t sprinkle here, but they refused to stop. That was the cause of the fight,” an eyewitness said in an interview.
The eyewitness said the deceased included the Obrafor of Sowutuom and the son of the local chief.
Several others were believed to be injured, though the exact number remains unclear.
The eyewitness confirmed that among the deceased were the Obrafor of Sowutuom and the local chief’s son.
Many others were reported injured, although the precise number is still unknown.
He described scenes of chaos as armed men surged into the area, prompting many residents to flee and secure their shops.
“About five of them entered here with serious guns, shooting left, right, and centre. One man they were chasing ran into my place, but later went back out and was shot,” he added.
The police later arrived to restore order in the community.
2. Agona Abodom Festival
Three suspected land guards were killed, whilst more than 20 people sustained various degrees of injuries at Agona Abodom during a violent clash between the residents and land guards, allegedly from Greater Kasoa, during the town’s annual festival.
The witness said 11 of those injured were rushed to Agona Bobikuma Health Centre, and the rest had been admitted at Gomoa Obuasi Health Centre and Swedru Municipal Government Hospital.
According to the eyewitness, property worth a fortune, including the NADMO Zonal office located at the Abodom chief’s palace, as well as canopies erected and plastic chairs arranged for the Akwambo Festival durbar, was damaged.
The witness said two of the land guards who were on admission at the Bobikuma Health Centre told the police that they were allegedly brought to Abodom by a citizen of the town, but a resident at Kasoa.
The information has that the Tufuhene of the town, Nana Kusi Obrempong II had sought an injunction at the Swedru High Court to restrain one Mr Kwesi Gyan who claimed to be chief of the town and others from celebrating the festival, but the court refused to grant the injunction.
During a meeting of the Nyakrom Traditional Council, the Omanhen (Overlord) of Agonanman, OKofo Ktakayi Nyakoh Eku X, requested that the Agona West Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) halt the celebration of the Abodom Akwambo Festival to prevent potential conflicts.
Calls for Stricter Firearm Laws
Security experts, such as Richard Kumadoe, have urged the government to tighten firearm laws to prevent the proliferation of small arms.
Kumadoe argues that the current regulatory framework is inadequate, allowing weapons to fall into the wrong hands. He further advocated for stricter background checks, robust monitoring, and clear criteria for gun or firearm ownership.
