A cultural dispute is unfolding in Accra as the Ga Traditional Council (GTC) has strongly objected to the planned celebration of the Igbo New Yam Festival, scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park.
The council has petitioned the authorities to intervene and halt the event, warning that it could threaten peace and security within the Ga State.
The festival, themed “2025 Ibo Day in Ghana – New Yam Festival,” is being organized by Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, leader of Ghana’s Igbo community. The annual event has been observed in Ghana for over a decade, with the 2024 edition attracting dignitaries from both Ghana and Nigeria.
In a letter signed by the GTC’s Registrar, Evelyn Amewotse, the council argued that the planned celebration disregards a July 9, 2025 directive cautioning Eze Ihenetu against hosting cultural festivities that “introduce Igbo traditions into the Ga State.” The letter, issued under the authority of HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, urged state agencies to halt the programme immediately.
The New Yam Festival, or Iri Ji, is a major Igbo tradition celebrated globally to mark the end of the farming season and the beginning of a new harvest. It features rituals, yam feasts, drumming, masquerade dances, and other cultural displays.
The GTC insists its opposition is rooted in safeguarding the cultural sovereignty of the Ga people. It warned that allowing the event, especially after a prior caution, could set a precedent with wider implications for traditional authority and cultural harmony.
Observers note that the situation underscores the delicate balance of cultural coexistence in Accra, a cosmopolitan hub where diverse ethnic groups interact. The role of government and security agencies will be crucial in defusing tensions and finding a resolution that respects both the Ga State’s authority and the cultural rights of the Igbo community.
