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.
