<<Print>>

The Accra Regional Police Command is cautioning organizers and participants of Saturday’s ‘DumsorMustStop vigil’ to desist from making noise during the procession.

The call is aimed at ensuring the ban on drumming and noise making imposed by the Ga Traditional Council ahead of their annual Homowo festival is adhered to.

The Accra Regional Police PRO, ASP Afia Tenge in an interview with Citi News said persons interested in taking part in the vigil should take note that “this is not the usual demonstrations that we all know where it is usually associated with noise.”

“This is very solemn and very noise-free procession so we will implore everyone and other people who will want to be part of this that as they come, they should know that it is not a noise making vigil,” she added.

Since some celebrities announced plans to embark on a ‘‘DumsorMustStop vigil’ slated for May 16, they encountered many setbacks which threatened to disrupt the intended exercise.

First, they received both support and condemnation of equal measure from sections of the general public and from some government officials.

The vigil was expected to begin at the stadium on the University of Ghana campus and end at the Green Park opposite the Villagio apartments near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra.

But authorities at the University of Ghana in a terse statement warned the organizers not to associate the school with their intended procession since no permission or whatsoever has been sought or granted.

Their second choice venue, Total Ghana’s ‘On the Run- opposite the university was also not meant to be after the management of Total Ghana turned them away.

Their challenges were far from over as the Ga Traditional Council also petitioned the Police not to allow the vigil to take place following a ban imposed on drumming and noise making.

However, the La Traditional Council gave its consent to the organizers of the vigil with the explanation that the mapped out route for the event did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Ga traditional Council.

After a series of marathon meetings, the vigil is finally coming on as planned.

According to ASP Tenge, they are expecting about 500 people to partake in the vigil “and so taking that into consideration, we also have enough man power to deploy to undertake this particular assignment.”

Meanwhile, the Counsel for the celebrities, Kofi Bentil, has served notice that any participant who will flout the ban will not be shielded.

The vigil take place on Saturday, May 16 at 4 pm. The participants will converge on the overhead bridge close to the main Univeristy of Ghana gate.