In a move aimed at preserving public safety and preventing potential violence, the Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has officially banned the celebration of a new festival, “Wa Yaa Dorm, Wa Yaa Klowem,” within the Yilo Klo Traditional Area.
The decision, issued in a letter dated April 15, 2025, follows concerns over rising tensions in Somanya and fears of a possible breach of peace if the festival proceeds as planned.
The controversy stems from the timing and route of the proposed festival, which coincides with the well-established Plau Kani festival.
The Plau Kani festival is an annual cultural and traditional celebration observed by the chiefs and people of Plau in Somanya.
Scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2025, the grand durbar of Plau Kani typically features a vibrant procession through key parts of the town.
However, organizers of the new “Wa Yaa Dorm, Wa Yaa Klowem” festival had planned to use the same route for their activities on the same day, raising alarm within the local community and the security apparatus.
According to REGSEC, the decision to host a parallel event has provoked anxiety and resentment, creating an atmosphere of insecurity and hostility in the area.
“The mood of the town is that of insecurity and foreboding—there is tension, and there is hostility and resentment in the air,” the REGSEC statement read.
Citing the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030), the Council emphasized its mandate to prevent conflict and protect lives and property.
Following a security assessment during its meeting on April 15, REGSEC concluded that allowing the new festival to go ahead posed a significant risk to public order.
“In the interest of public safety, REGSEC has decided to stop the celebration of ‘Wa Yaa Dorm, Wa Yaa Klowem’ on the same day as the Plau Kani festival,” the directive stated.
The ban has been communicated to the Paramount Chief of the Yilo Klo Traditional Area, Oklepeme Nuer Anorbaw Sasraku II, and copied to the National Security Co-ordinator in Accra, among other stakeholders.
The Eastern Regional Police have also been instructed to enforce the ban and maintain law and order on the scheduled date.
This development adds to ongoing tensions in the area, which has in the past seen similar disputes over chieftaincy rights, land ownership, and cultural authority.
While REGSEC’s intervention seeks to maintain peace, it also underscores the broader challenges of cultural identity and traditional leadership dynamics in Ghana’s Eastern Region.
Local residents and traditional leaders are now being urged to cooperate fully with the authorities to ensure calm and order prevail.
As of now, the organizers of the banned festival have not issued a public response to the directive.
–BY Daniel Bampoe
