The Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V, has reiterated a call for a national holiday for the believers of the African Traditional Religion.
He explained that this would allow traditional worshipers to offer prayers for the country, celebrate the indigenous way of worship, and renew their commitment to their deities, according to the customs of the African Traditional Religion.
He was speaking at a ceremony orgaanised by the Afrikania Mission to commemorate the maiden edition of the National Thanksgiving and Prayer Day in Agbozume Klikor, in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.
“The 1992 constitution identified the Traditional Religion, the Christian Religion, and the Muslim Religion as the three major religions in Ghana, but the government has refused to recognize the Traditional Religion. The Christian Religion has Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, and Boxing Day holidays. They have enough holidays and do not need any other holidays in Ghana.
This is not the first time the traditional ruler has called for a national holiday for followers of the religion.
The Muslim Religion has Idr al-Fitr, Idr al-Adhar; they have two holidays, but what of the Traditional Religion, which holiday do we have? That is why we need to unite and petition the government for a holiday”, he said.
Togbe Fiti entreated believers of the traditional religion to channel their grievances through the traditional councils for the appropriate redress.
He explained that Ghana has almost lost its indigenous culture, which includes their way of worship among others, calling on leaders to lead the way in reviving the ways of their forefathers.
Togbe Fiti outlined that the government of Benin identified the prominence of the African Traditional Religion, allocated holidays to the religion, and tapped into its tourism potential.
He also recounted the rituals performed during the coronation of King Charles, reflecting how significant tradition is to the human race, and questioned the intention of successive Ghanaian leaders shying away from the religion.
He questioned the decision by the government not to include the Traditional Religion in the planning of the National Thanksgiving and Prayer Day and underscored the need for the government to give equal recognition to the three major religions as enshrined in the constitution.
“I do not know why Ghanaian Leaders are ashamed of the Traditional Religion. I see no reason why successive governments should be doing this to the Traditional Religion”, he stressed.
He asserted that the National Democratic Congress government’s Reset Agenda would be incomplete if it fails to lead the resurgence of the African Traditional Religion, which is almost lost on the majority of Ghanaian.
“The resetting is to evoke the ancestral spirit that we have forgotten. Let us get to the past, know what our forefathers did in the past, the good and bad, let us identify the good, bring it forth for the next generation to learn”, he stressed.
He announced that the Aflao Traditional Council has begun making plans to institute a day to celebrate the deities and gods in the Ketu South Municipality.
Togbe Fiti V added that they would also document the appropriate and acceptable way of worship and the process of rituals, targeted at streamlining the African way of worship and purging the religion of quacks and imposters.
He warned that the African community would perish if leaders continued to neglect or sideline the African Traditional Religion, which embodies customs and traditions practiced by generations.