4 churches fined GH¢3,000 each for flouting noisemaking ban

The churches are also required to present one sheep each and a box of schnapps (castle bridge) to the Ga Traditional Council registry.

They are St. Margaret Catholic Church (Dansoman SSNIT Flat), Faith Independent Baptist Church (Kotobabi), Presbyterian Church of Ghana (Abeka-Lapaz), and Winners Chapel International (Head Office).

The Ga Traditional Council has announced that this year's ban on drumming and noise-making in the Greater Accra Region commences from Monday, May 15 to Thursday, June 15, 2023, but some churches flouted the ban.

Appearing before the court of the Ga Traditional Council on Thursday, June 22, 2023, the Faith Independent Baptist Church explained that they used microphones at reduced volumes, but the court presided over by the Jamestown Sempe Mantse and Mankralo of the Ga State, Nii Adotey Otintor II, insisted that this is in contrast to the directive on the ban on drumming and noisemaking.

For the St. Margaret Catholic Church, they argued they followed a subsequent directive from the Chieftaincy Ministry and the agreement between the Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, and Faith-Based Organizations, which allowed them to use public address systems at reduced volumes.

The court after hearing from the religious groups initially fined each GH¢5,000, 1 cow and a box of schnapps (castle bridge) but due to the plea, they reduced it to GH¢3,000gh, a sheep and a box of schnapps (castle bridge).

Two churches, the Church of Pentecost (Kaneshie Branch) and Pure Fire Miracle Ministries International (Kisseman), and an individual Chris Agyemang failed to appear before the council.