Nii Ashittey Kwaobotwe Teshie Dzase has raised concerns over the absence of key government and security officials ahead of the 2026 Atenchi Homowo Festival while assuring residents of a peaceful celebration.

Addressing stakeholders, the Teshie Dzase noted that Homowo has now grown beyond a local event and has become a “national agenda”.

“The Atenchi Humor Festival has become a national agenda or program. The festival has been discussed on the floor of Parliament and the Minister of Tourism has actually made some commitments. So, it is a national issue,” he said.

However, he expressed worry that some critical leaders were missing from the preparatory programme.  

“It is very disturbing that the MP is not here. He came earlier on to ask permission. The MCE is absent. The new district police commander who has been posted is absent. We have not seen her. We don’t know her name and it keeps us wondering.”

Drawing from last year’s events, the Mantse recalled the killing of Yaa Naa which he described as a “national catastrophe”.

“On the day that Jana was killed, there was a national catastrophe. The Minister of Interior was on admission at the hospital. The army commander was out of coverage area. All the barriers were removed. There was no single police barrier in the whole of Ghana. The Ammo car that is to move to Diana’s rescue had no battery. And Diana was assassinated.”

With that experience in mind, he asked: “With the hindsight of what happened last year, we are wondering, is there going to be a replay of the Dargon issue? I wonder.”

Despite the concerns, the Teshie Mantse assured all Teshimei that this year’s festival will be peaceful.  

“But let me take this opportunity to assure all Tashmene that, by the grace of God, we will celebrate Homowo in absolute peace. Nobody, nobody can stand in the way of peace.”

He stressed that with Homowo now recognized as a national program, there is the need for full collaboration between traditional authorities, Parliament, the Ministry of Tourism, the Municipal Assembly, and security agencies to ensure the safety of all participants.