Homowo Festival Tragedy: Clashes in Sowutuom and Anyaa Leave 3 Dead, Several Injured
The Homowo Festival, a cherished Ga tradition marking the end of hunger and celebrating harvest, was overshadowed by tragedy on August 30, 2025. Instead of uniting communities through food, drumming, and rituals, the celebration turned deadly when violent clashes erupted in the Sowutuom and Anyaa areas of Accra.
According to the Accra Regional Police Command, three people were confirmed dead and four others injured after rival groups from Omanjor and Sowutuom clashed during the kpokpoi sprinkling ceremony. Gunfire broke out amid the rituals, sending festival-goers fleeing in panic. Unconfirmed reports suggested the son of the Sowutuom Chief was among the casualties, though police have yet to verify this.
By evening, security forces had locked down Omanjor Dwenewoho, restoring uneasy calm with a heavy presence. Videos circulating on social media under the hashtag #HomowoClashes captured the chaos, showing terrified residents running for safety.
The tragedy follows closely on the heels of another violent outbreak during Teshie’s Homowo on August 26, which claimed two lives. Authorities have since imposed court injunctions, firearm bans, and increased police patrols to prevent further escalations.
Community leaders and the Ghana Police Service are urging restraint and dialogue, stressing that festivals are meant to unite, not divide. As commentator Nana Tuffour Boateng put it, “Festivals are meant to unite us, not tear us apart.”
For many Ghanaians, these back-to-back clashes have raised urgent questions about how to safeguard cultural heritage while addressing the deep-rooted chieftaincy and boundary disputes that threaten national peace.
