Ga Mantse Stopped the Igbo Yam Festival in Accra

 

 

The 2025 edition of the Igbo Day and New Yam Festival was scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 21, at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra. It was organized under the leadership of Eze Dr. Ambassador Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, widely known as the Igbo King in Ghana. Preparations had been ongoing for months, with invitations sent to dignitaries, chiefs, and representatives of both the Igbo and Ghanaian communities.

For many, the festival was not just a social event but an important opportunity to showcase the rich Igbo heritage in Ghana and reinforce bonds between the diaspora and their homeland. Large numbers of Igbos in Ghana were eagerly anticipating the day.

Intervention by the Ga Traditional Council: Days before the event, however, the Ga Traditional Council issued a directive halting the festival. In a statement signed by its leaders, the Council expressed strong opposition, citing concerns about public peace and security. It argued that allowing the festival to go ahead could lead to disturbances within Ga State, where Accra is located.

The Council further pointed to an earlier directive, issued on July 9, 2025, cautioning Eze Ihenetu against staging cultural events that might be perceived as introducing Igbo traditional practices into Ga land. According to the Council, the Yam Festival was crossing cultural boundaries and risked undermining the sovereignty of Ga traditions.

The Ga Mantse and his Council formally requested the police and other security agencies to enforce the halt, effectively ensuring the festival did not proceed.

The press Statement.

Reasons behind the Decision: 

1. Cultural Sovereignty – The Ga Traditional Council emphasized that Accra is the heart of Ga State, and as such, all cultural activities must respect Ga customs and authority. Allowing another ethnic group to stage a large festival resembling a state ceremony was seen as overstepping boundaries.
2. Security Concerns – Large gatherings in the capital are often sensitive. The Council feared that the festival could spark disorder or tension, especially if misinterpreted as a competing traditional authority.
3. Precedent – By stopping the event, the Council sought to set a clear precedent that traditional and cultural authority within Ga State cannot be bypassed.
4. Perception of Encroachment – Some Ga elders reportedly worried that the festival was less a community gathering and more a symbolic establishment of Igbo culture in the heart of Accra.

 

Reactions from the Igbo Community: The Igbo community in Ghana was disappointed by the cancellation. Many members had already made travel arrangements and preparations for the festival. Leaders argued that the festival was never intended to undermine Ga traditions but rather to celebrate the Igbo identity and foster cultural exchange.

Eze Ihenetu, who has served as the symbolic head of Igbos in Ghana since his coronation, has often spoken about using the festival to build bridges between Nigerians and Ghanaians. He and his council of chiefs stressed that the event had been held in previous years without major problems, including editions that received wide publicity and diplomatic attention.

Some Igbo leaders recalled that in 2020, the festival had been canceled voluntarily due to COVID-19 health restrictions, not because of cultural disputes. For them, the 2025 decision felt more like a rejection of their cultural presence than a neutral act of security management.

 

Public Opinion

• Supporters of the Ga Council argued that traditional authority must be respected, and no group should be allowed to conduct ceremonies that appear to rival the indigenous customs of Accra. They viewed the decision as a necessary step to protect Ga culture.
• Sympathizers with the Igbo community felt that the move was heavy-handed. To them, Ghana is a multi-ethnic society where communities should be allowed to celebrate their heritage freely, provided they do not disturb public order. They saw the festival as an opportunity for cultural exchange rather than cultural invasion.
• Observers in the media framed the situation as a clash of cultural rights, questioning how Ghana can balance pluralism with respect for local authority.

 

Broader Implications

• Legal and Customary Authority: Ghana’s traditional councils wield considerable influence, even though they exist alongside modern state institutions. When diaspora communities establish their own chiefs and organize cultural festivals, the boundaries between customary authority and civic freedom can blur.
• Cultural Integration vs. Assertion: Diaspora groups often struggle between integrating into their host society and preserving their heritage. Celebrations like the Yam Festival are meant to affirm identity, but they can be misread as challenges to local authority.
• Conflict Prevention: The episode shows how cultural misunderstandings can escalate into conflict if not managed with dialogue. Authorities, community leaders, and security agencies must create transparent processes for approving cultural events.
• Precedent for the Future: If the Igbo Yam Festival is permanently barred, other diaspora communities may fear similar treatment. Conversely, if exceptions are made, local chiefs may worry about losing influence. The way this issue is resolved will set the tone for future multicultural interactions in Ghana.

 

The cancellation of the 2025 Igbo New Yam Festival is more than a logistical setback; it is a test of Ghana’s ability to manage cultural diversity. Both the Ga Traditional Council and the Igbo community have valid perspectives one rooted in preserving indigenous sovereignty, the other in expressing diaspora identity.

Moving forward, dialogue appears to be the only sustainable solution. If channels of communication are strengthened, future festivals could be held in ways that respect Ga traditions while still allowing the Igbo community to celebrate their heritage. Options might include co-organizing events with Ga authorities, hosting the festival outside sensitive traditional zones, or agreeing on formats that emphasize cultural exchange rather than authority.

The halting of the Igbo Yam Festival in Accra in 2025 highlights the delicate balance between tradition, identity, and authority in a multicultural society. For the Igbo in Ghana, the festival is a vital link to their roots and an expression of who they are. For the Ga Traditional Council, it is a matter of protecting their cultural sovereignty and maintaining order in their capital.

As Ghana continues to embrace its diversity, such conflicts will likely re-emerge. What will matter is how leaders and communities navigate them with openness, respect, and a willingness to find common ground. Only then can festivals like the Yam celebration serve their true purpose: not as points of division, but as bridges of unity across cultures.