Mr George Opoku Amponsah, a Social Interest advocate, politician and farmer has appealed to the national security outfit to evaluate the firing of musketry at public functions and gatherings.
In a release copied to this news outfit, Mr Amponsah noted that the regulation of such activity would help to curb the harm associated with the wrongful firing of same.
Arguing with a specific example, Mr Amponsah recalled the recent incident that has caused some sight issues to Kofi Adomah Nwawani, a famous media personality with the Angel Broadcasting Network (ABN).
We present the arguments and suggestions of Mr Amponsah on the matter as contained in the press release.
FIRING OF TRADITIONAL MUSKETRY, A NATIONAL SECURITY NEMESIS; THE CASE OF KOFI ADOMA NWANWANI
George Opoku Amponsah writes…
Born on 23rd March, 1942 in Georgetown, Guyana, Walter Rodney, a Historian, Political Activist and Academic once said, “a culture is a total way of life” but I dare say our culture has shamefully and unfortunately become a total road to misery.
On Thursday, 13th March 2025, I watched an emotional press conference addressed by a visibly traumatised Kofi Adoma Nwanwani and some of his psychologically terrified family members as depicted by their body language throughout the process.
The once vibrant and towering figure in Ghana’s media space was fear-strikingly shivering while holding his favourite tool, the microphone as he tears to narrate his ordeal following an obviously avoidable incident at Dormaa a few weeks ago.
With the greatest of respect to our rich culture, customs and heritage as a people, I am of the view that, the time has come for us to see traditional musketry as a National Security issue.
The archaic method of announcing the arrival of a powerful traditional leader at a durbar through the firing of musketry must cease effective immediately as a National compensation package for the family of one of Ghana’s celebrated media icons. After all, Mahatma Ghandi was right when he said, “a nation’s culture resides in the hearts and souls of its people”
To me, true civilization happens when culture changes with the transformation of societies and its people. Culture does not change because we desire to change it. Culture must reflect the realities of people working together everyday.
When a beautiful culture is marred by tragic consequencies, it naturally erodes public trust in our own tradition no matter how long it might have existed.
Today, it is Kofi Adoma Nwanwani, tomorrow, it could be you and I. Let us begin the National conversation on this subject as lovers of our culture.
Inspired by the wise quote of Edmund Burke, “all tyrany needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent”. I therefore on this note, appeal to Civil Society Organisations, National House of Chiefs, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Parliament of Ghana and the general public to join the debate on the relevance of the firing of musketry in our modern democratic environment.
By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.
