The Chiefs and people of the Asere Kotopon Stool of the Ga State have officially launched the 2026 edition of the Homowo celebration, calling on residents and the wider GaDangme community to celebrate the annual festival in peace, unity, and harmony.

The 2026 Homowo celebration, launched at the Asere Palace in Kaneshie, a suburb of Accra, is on the theme: “Uniting Asere For A Peaceful Homowo; Our Culture, Our Heritage.”

The festival aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural values and traditional heritage of the Ga people while strengthening unity within the Asere Kotopon Traditional Area.

The colourful launch attracted traditional rulers from towns and villages within the Asere Kotopon Traditional Area and beyond, who were dressed in red and accompanied by vibrant drumming, dancing, and other cultural displays.

Speaking at the launch, the Asere Mantse, Nii Asere Boi IV, urged residents to actively participate in this year’s celebrations while avoiding rancour, division, and violence.

He described Homowo as a festival that commemorates the victory of the Ga people over famine and reminded the gathering that it is a period for joy, togetherness, and reflection on their shared history.

“Our gathering today is because it is time to celebrate Homowo. This year’s celebration is going to be one of its kind and should be celebrated with happiness,” he said.

Nii Asere Boi IV, noted that the Ga people have long been recognised for their spirit of unity and peaceful coexistence, values that should guide every activity throughout the festival.

“We shouldn’t forget that we are Gas and Gas don’t quarrel because it is togetherness and friendship that make up our families. Therefore, I urge us to celebrate this year’s Homowo with peace, not violence, because we are one,” he added.

The Asere Dzaasetse, Nii Amarkai III, also appealed to the youth to refrain from violence and strictly obey the laws of the country during the festivities.

According to him, the Homowo celebration attracts visitors from the Ghanaian diaspora as well as members of the diplomatic community, making it important for participants to conduct themselves in a manner that protects the image of Accra as Ghana’s capital city.

He further appealed to the Ghana Police Service to deny security protection to any chief prohibited from performing the traditional Kpokpoi rites.

The Ofankor Mantse, Nii Kortey Boi II, announced that chiefs of Asere Kotopon, dressed in red, would assemble at the Ofankor Palace to perform customary rites before proceeding to the historic Okai-Koi Hills to honour Nii Okai-Koi, one of the greatest traditional leaders of the GaDangme people and a descendant of Asere Kotopon.

He also appealed to all indigenes of Asere Kotopon and the wider GaDangme community to observe the festival peacefully.

The Asere Manye, Naa Dedei Faakor III, reaffirmed the traditional area’s responsibility as the custodian of key Ga customs that precede the Homowo celebrations.

She explained that Asere Kotopon is responsible for the sprinkling of Kpokpoi in about 150 homes within the Ga Mashie area, highlighting the traditional area’s central role in preserving the customs associated with the festival.

This year’s month-long celebration will feature a legal advisory session on Tuesday, July 21, a free health screening on Thursday, July 23, the traditional Asere Stool visit to the Okai-Koi Hills on Friday, August 7, the main Ga Mashie Homowo celebration on Saturday, August 8, and Ŋɔɔ Wala on Sunday, August 9.

The launch climaxed with the unveiling of the official 2026 Asere Homowo festival cloth, Asere Koo Wulu Maama, by queenmothers led by the Asere Manye, Naa Dedei Faakor III, who encouraged all indigenes to purchase the cloth and proudly wear it during this year’s celebrations.