It is Time to Declare a Traditional Holiday in Ghana

A. AYINIBISAH AYELAH

A recent video of the Apetorku Gbodzi Festival went viral on social media reigniting the debate for a traditional holiday in Ghana. Traditionalists who are cognizant of their rights under the code of arms of Ghana, “freedom and justice” as well as the protections bestowed on them under Chapter Five, 21 (c) and 26 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, have come to the realization that it is time for the government of Ghana to declare a National Day of Observance for Traditionalists to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate.

Currently, Ghana has religious holidays for two dominant religions, vis-a-vis   Christianity, and Islam. Love or loathe it but these two religions are foreign not only to Ghana, but to Africa. When it comes to national events traditional believers in Ghana have been confined to the doldrums of antiquity, but that may be understandable to objective practitioners because it’s said that the Christian Jesus was not accepted in his own backyard.

There are 13 public holidays in the Republic of Ghana of which six are religious holidays (four for Christians and two for Muslims).

In September 2013, Ghana’s President H.E. John Dramani Mahama attended a United Nations General Assembly in New York City. At a community forum on September 26, as host of Divine Speech in African Traditionalism, on a New York Community television, I asked the President whether and when a national holiday will be declared for traditionalists in Ghana.

By all purpose and intent, President was either uncomfortable or unprepared for the question. He did not answer my question directly but skirted around it and snickered as if ashamed a Ghanaian in New York City would identify himself as a traditionalist.

The President suggested that because Ghana is a multi ethnic country with diverse festivals and religious observations, he would rather prefer a unified traditional body come up with a common date of observance upon which he may act.

I have never been humiliated in my life until that day. Prior to President Mahama’s address to the audience at the event, two prayers were offered, one by a Christian Pastor and another by a Muslim Imam. There was no traditional prayer of offering libation.

Prior, the late President Atta-Mills had banned the pouring of libation during national celebrations, and it was therefore no surprise that his Vice and later successor President Mahama followed suit. But this deprivation of traditional practice to participate in national affairs in front of our African American and other non-Africans was beyond humiliation for some of us.

Five years later, the government under Nana Akufo-Addo has almost declared Ghana a “Christian Nation” with the building of a National Cathedral, which is currently shrouded in controversies.

Fast forward, eleven years later, Mahama is running to reclaim power as President. The million-dollar question is:  will he do the needful to sign a declaration for a national holiday for practitioners of the foremost belief system in Ghana?  The same question can be posted to Bawumia.

It defies common logic to complain about social decadence when we have turned our backs on practices that held our progenitors to live dignified lives anchored on their beliefs…the very beliefs we now frown upon as devilish, paganistic and everything in between.

It is mind-boggling to accept the fact that since 1884 few African nations view their traditional way of life worthy of recognition with a national holiday.

Despite these disappointing governmental policies, it is encouraging to report that a few African governments have seen the light and have done the right thing by declaring some days to celebrate Traditional Day(s).

The Republic of Benin a nation in West Africa was the first to declare a traditional day in honor of the ancestors in voodoo religion.

The Republic of Rwanda has also declared Umuganura as a public holiday in a post-harvest honor of the land. It is also encouraging to recognize the celebration of Nane (Farmers’ Day) in Tanzania as well as two traditional holidays in the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). These holidays are Incwala, a celebration of the beginning of the Harvest Season and Umhlanga the Reed Dance.

In the Republic of Kenya, there is a traditional holiday that is celebrated nationwide called Diwali. It is a Hindu (Indian) traditional holiday. Out of a population of 53 million people, the 110,000 Indians living in Kenya are deserving of a traditional holiday but not the Kikuyu, Luo, Maasai, Samburu etc.  

Ghana, and most other African countries are waiting for a bold and fearless leader who’d do the right thing and declare a public holiday for the primus religious belief bequeathed to us by our ancestors!

Educated Traditionalists seeing and experiencing the discriminatory policies of our government(s) are leading a crusade for inclusiveness and belongingness.

The time has come for Traditionalists to be treated fairly and with dignity. The ball is now in the court of the two dominant parties in Ghana, Mahama’s NDC and Bawumia’s NPP.

 African Traditional Dignity Matters!!!