The Local Council of Churches at Beposo in the Sekyere Central District of Ashanti Region, has vowed to defy the ban on drumming and noise-making by the traditional authority, setting the stage for a head-on collision.

The Churches said they would neither be coerced nor prevented from exercising their right to freedom of worship, adding that under no circumstance would they succumb to traditional practices, rites and taboos that were inconsistent and at variance with their religious beliefs.

The Council brings together 10 Christian denominations including the Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Muzama Disco Kristo Church (MDCC), Church of Paradise, Pentecost (Macedonia), Assemblies of God, Salvation Army, Deeper Life and Christ Apostolic.

The 40-day ban comes in the wake of the celebration of the annual yam festival of the “Fegyare” Shrine.

Skirmishes over the enforcement of the traditional ban last Wednesday, resulted in alleged physical assault of four members of the Presbyterian Church and vandalizing of its property by some youth of the community.

The incident forced the Council, chaired by the Reverend C.S. Lambert, to hold an emergency meeting at which the decision was taken not to comply with the ban.

They have accordingly informed the Ashanti Regional Security Council, the Omanhene of Beposo, Nana Boama Kwabi V, the Police and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) about their decision.

The Council said the constitutional right of its members to practice and manifest their religion would not be restricted.

Meanwhile, the police have intensified their patrols in the community to halt acts of vandalism.

GNA