The Supreme Head of Gbese Sonmenaa Nii Doku III on Saturday August 10, 2024 led the Gbese Mantse Dr. Nii Ayi-bonte II to sprinkle the traditional food – Kpokpoi at Usher fort.
Per tradition the Supreme head of Gbese Sonmenaa is mandated to lead the Gbese Mantse in performing the traditional rites marking the Homowo festival.
The Chiefs and people of Gbese gathered at the Gbese Mantse Palace to form a procession led by Nii Doku III and Asafoatsemei through to the Usher fort where the Gbese Mantse mashed the traditional food to commence the sprinkling of Kpokpoi amid drumming, dancing and firing of musketry.
Customs and traditions of the Ga Mashie people also demand that the Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II, who is the Adonten of the State (Head of military of the Ga State) begins the activities with sprinkling of the Kpokpoi from the Usher fort through the principal streets to his palace.
The principal streets of Gbese, Bukom, James Town and its environs became red as indigenes in the area and their chiefs walked through the streets to mark the commencement of the festival.
The Supreme Head of Gbese Sonmenaa, Nii Doku III took the opportunity to call on his people to come together as one unit to develop the Ga communities.
Disunity according to him does not foster development in any community rather it sends such a community backward.
He therefore appealed to all members of the Ga state to use this year’s Homowo festival to forgive each other and unite for progress.
He urged Ga youth to champion the cause for unity, peace and development in the various communities within the Ga Mashie area adding that peace, unity and togetherness are major factors that bring development hence the need for the youth to champion unity.
He revealed that the Homowo festival also brings family and friends together under one umbrella to settle their differences.
The Supreme Head of Gbese Sonmenaa used the opportunity to implored the youth to desist from involving themselves in any act that may jeopardize the peace Ghanaians are enjoying before, during and after the December elections.
He advised the youth to be careful during this year elections and not to allow their youthful exuberance to lead them into trouble.
Homowo means “hooting at hunger” it is celebrated by the Ga people to signify a time in their history when they faced a great famine and ultimately came out of it.
