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Institute holiday to celebrate ancestors — Traditionalists urge gov’t
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A legal storm is brewing over Ghana’s cultural identity.
Nana Obiri Boahen, a prominent legal practitioner, has vowed to sue the state if a national holiday is not instituted to celebrate the ancestors of the respective traditions in the country.
He insists that the omission is discriminatory, since Christians and Muslims enjoy public holidays while traditional worshippers are denied equal recognition.
“If Parliament will not take the matter up, I will be tempted to go to court,” he declared, stressing that the constitution itself upholds Ghana’s traditions and culture.
Nana Boahen made the call at a spirited programme organised by the National Association of Traditionalists and Ancestral Venerators (NATAV).
He lamented that repeated petitions for a national day have gone unanswered, though he expressed hope that the demand will eventually be met.
The programme was on the theme: “Reclaiming Our Ancestral Foundations through a Public Day: Our Heroes, Identity, Unity and the Future of Ghana.”
Painting a vivid contrast between Ghana’s neglect of its own traditions and the reverence shown abroad, Nana Obiri Boahen cited examples of Ghanaians travelling to Jerusalem to pray at a wall while ignoring pilgrimages to Pusigah, the seat of Naa Gbewa.
He also highlighted what he described as the erasure of cultural memory—students in Ahanta unaware of Badu Bonsu, who was beheaded by the Dutch and whose skull was returned in 2009; names like Obuor being discarded for ‘Peter’ at baptism; and the foundational role of Komfo Anokye in the rise of Asanteman.
He insisted that ancestral worship is not merely ritual but a reclamation of identity and dignity long eroded by colonial influence.
“Black people have become victims of atrocities and centuries of systemic brainwashing, but now we have realised the narratives were wrong,” Nana Yaw WI said, explaining that such gatherings are meant to awaken consciousness.
Shekhem Enen Tehuti Men Ab Bonsu, leader of the Ghana branch of the Ausar Auset Society, urged Africans to study traditional religion, insisting that “the power of the black man lies in the religion,” and stressed the importance of honouring the ancestors.
He argued that European systems discouraged such practices precisely because of their potency.
Baffour Asabere Kogyawoasu Ababio III, High Priest at Manhyia Palace and Patron of NATAV, echoed the call, urging Ghanaians to honour those who laid the foundations of civilisation.
Some of the advocates noted that the matter is not just cultural but constitutional, and that the threat of legal action by Nana Obiri Boahen could inject urgency into a debate that blends law, tradition, and identity.
They observed that if Parliament continues to delay, the courts may soon be asked to decide whether ancestral worship deserves its own day on Ghana’s national calendar.
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested former professional boxer Michael Ayitey Okai, popularly known as “Ayitey Powers,” over an alleged threat of death against the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo.
According to the Police, the 46-year-old former boxer was arrested on Monday, August 24, 2026, in connection with the alleged threat.
The Police said the arrest followed a video circulating on social media in which Ayitey Powers is alleged to have issued the threat against Mr Ampofo.
He is currently in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.
The Accra Regional Police Command said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged threat and determine the appropriate action to be taken in accordance with the law.
The Command has urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information about the matter while the investigation continues.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin has sued the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, and Multimedia Group Limited over alleged defamatory comments made against him on the Newsfile programme.
In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, Mr Afenyo Markin is seeking GH¢15 million in damages, an apology and retraction of the statements, among other reliefs.
The suit follows comments allegedly made by Mr Gyamfi during the Saturday, August 22, 2026 edition of Newsfile, hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Gyamfi described Mr Afenyo Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to a question about GoldBod’s reported profits and its position on losses arising from its operations.
The plaintiff claims that Mr Gyamfi repeated the allegation when the host sought clarification on whether he stood by the description.
Mr Afenyo Markin further claims that Mr Gyamfi challenged him to sue him and insisted that the allegation was true.
The plaintiff argues that the statements created the impression that he engages in extortion, uses his political influence to put improper pressure on public institutions and officials, and conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with the standards expected of a lawyer and public office holder.
He denies the allegations and maintains that he is not an extortionist and has never engaged in the conduct alleged by Mr Gyamfi.
The Minority Leader also argues that the comments were made maliciously and were presented as facts without evidence being disclosed.
He claims the statements have damaged his reputation, professional standing and public image, particularly because of his position as a senior political figure and legal practitioner.
The suit also names Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant because, according to the plaintiff, the alleged defamatory comments were broadcast through JoyNews and subsequently circulated on social media platforms, including X, Facebook and YouTube.
Mr Afenyo Markin claims Multimedia failed to stop the comments or deactivate Mr Gyamfi’s microphone after the allegations were made.
He is therefore asking the court to award him general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as GH¢15 million in compensation and legal costs.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to issue a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction and public apology.
The plaintiff wants the apology and retraction to be given similar prominence and reach as the original publication, including through JoyNews and the social media platforms where the comments were disseminated.
He is further seeking a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from repeating the alleged defamatory statements or words with a similar meaning.
The writ requires the defendants to enter an appearance within eight days after being served.
It warns that failure to do so could result in judgment being entered in their absence.
The case was filed by lawyer Paa Kwesi Abaidoo of Dehyena Chambers on behalf of Mr Afenyo Markin.
By: Jacob Aggrey
