Ga Traditional Council cancels Igbo Yam festival

The Ga Traditional Council has officially cancelled the planned “2025 Ibo Day in Ghana/New Yam Festival” scheduled for Sunday, 21st September at the Efua Sutherland Children's Park in Accra.

The event, organized by Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu—popularly known as the “Igbo King of Ghana”—has been deemed a potential threat to peace and security within the Ga State, according to a letter issued by the Council.

In a statement signed by the Registrar of the Ga Traditional Council, Evelyn Amewotse, the Council expressed strong disapproval of the festival, warning that the continued organization of cultural events by the said individual on Ga lands violates earlier directives.

The Council cited a previous communiqué dated 9th July 2025, which cautioned Dr. Ihenetu against holding any traditional or cultural festivities within the jurisdiction of the Ga State without proper consultations and approvals.

“Such activities have the potential to disrupt the peace and stability of our communities, especially during this sacred Homowo season,” the Council stated.

The Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has called for urgent governmental and security intervention to stop the event and restore calm, emphasizing the need to respect traditional protocols and cultural sovereignty.

This latest development comes just days after a widely circulated incident in which Dr. Ihenetu was reportedly denied the opportunity to greet the Asantehene at a public event, sparking conversations about the role and recognition of parallel traditional leadership structures in Ghana.

The Council’s decision underscores ongoing concerns about cultural overreach and the preservation of indigenous traditions and authority within the Ga State.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith