The widely anticipated bout between two of Ghana’s local boxing heroes –– Bukom Banku and Ayittey Powers –– has hit a new snag, after previous postponements.
The bout, scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium, had previously been postponed twice, after Ayittey Powers pulled out –– initially on the advice of his spiritual mentor, T.B Josuah, and later because he was unfit to fight.
This time around, it is ancient traditions among indigenes of Ghana’s capital, Accra that could force possible postponement of the bout or relocation of the venue for the fight.
Citi News has learnt that some local chiefs in the Ga State are calling on the Ghana Boxing Authority [GBA] to reschedule the bout, which incidentally is between two natives of Bukom –– an Accra suburb.
The chiefs say the bout, which has been scheduled for May 16, 2014, will disturb the annual ban on drumming and noise making, which precedes the yearly Homowo Festival of the Gas.
Homowo, which literally means “hooting at hunger”, is one of the colourful festivals celebrated by the indigenous people of Accra.
It is characterized by rituals such as the sprinkling of “Kpokpoi” (the festival dish) to the gods and ancestors for spiritual protection. The festival also involves procession of twins through the principal streets of Accra, traditional drumming and dancing and general merry-making.
Local traditional priests slap a ban on noise making a month before the celebrations.
“On the 16th of May we the Gas have a traditional custom called ban on drumming and dancing,” the Youth and Development Chief at Gbese Amotsiwe, Nii Ayafio Tetteh I, told Citi News. “What we hate around that time is disturbances because that is the time where the gods also work for us the Gas”.
“There is no way they are going to tell me this fight would come off without any disturbances so what we are saying is that they should have a chat with the Ghana Boxing Authority to reschedule the date, or the fight should be taken to another region but not in Greater Accra.”
He added, “Otumfuor is celebrating his 15th anniversary and there is no funeral going on in the Ashanti Region. This shows how people respect the Ashanti Kingdom so we the Gas are not going to take any chances at all in the Ga state”.
Two previous postponements of the much-anticipated bout sparked a firestorm of public anger, compelling the GBA to threaten sanctions against Powers for being truant.
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