MANYA-KROBO CHIEFS BAN NOISE-MAKING (BACK PAGE, NOV 5)

THE Manya-Krobo Traditional Council has, with immediate effect, banned the use of musical instruments at funerals and during church services in any locality within the traditional area after 8:00p.m.
The Konor of Manya-Krobo, Nene Sakite II, who announced the ban, ordered sub-chiefs, Dademantsemei (heads of the smaller communities) in the area to seize such instruments to be deposited at the various police stations in the area, after which leaders of the affected churches and families would be severely dealt with.
Nene Sakite announced the ban when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of the area to mark this year’s Ngmayem festival of the people at Odumase-Krobo, the traditional capital.
The event, on the theme “Promoting our cultural diversity — Recipe for development”, was attended by all the divisional and sub-chiefs of the area, as well as such dignitaries as the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Amoanor Quao, who is also the Member of Parliament for Upper Manya; the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr Alex Asum Ahensan.
According to Nene Sakite, solemn occasions such as funerals had now been turned into merry-making with the use of musical instruments and loudspeakers late into the night at weekends.
He said the situation had been compounded by some religious organisations, especially the Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, which also do the same almost everyday, making it difficult for people to sleep.
He ordered religious leaders and family heads not to play musical instruments after 8:00 p.m.
“I am a traditional leader and Christian who believe that funerals should be observed in a solemn manner, while church services must not also be conducted in a way that would disturb others, so the right thing must be done at all times,” Nene Sakite stated.
On agriculture, he said the area had a large tract of land, and called on the youth to go into farming to make a living.
With regard to low standard of education in the area, as a result of which some schools had been registering zero per cent passes at the Basic Examination Certificate Examination (BECE), Nene Sakite asked all stakeholders, especially teachers and parents to live up to their responsibility to reverse the trend.