The ban (Nmaa Dumor) and the lifting (Nmaa Faa), thus planting and harvesting of the first maize in the year by the Ga-Dangme traditional leaders precedes the festival.

Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the Osu Paramount Chief and the President of the Traditional Council, said the success of this year’s rite is unique and foreshadows signs of victory and blessings in the coming year.

He said, “At the planting of the maize we cried, prayed and pleaded with our ancestors to take away our iniquities and sufferings and all things that had hindered our development; and we called for God’s blessings.

“As the interventions of our ancestors was heard by God who gave us life and blessings, it is our time to wake up from our slumber to position ourselves to take advantage of it, to work hard.” On the ban on noise making for three weeks, Nii Kinka Dowuona said:

“Through these periods our fetish priests and priestesses fast and pray for opportunities and the development of the entire nation, but not for their selfish gains”. Nii Ako Nortei IV, the Osu Mankralo, called for unity among the citizenry of Osu to forge ahead in development, adding that “bickering does not promote peace for progress”.

This was after the FDA found the advert “valid” after careful consideration.

“The television advertisement approval of your product is also found to be valid and you may continue to advertise the product per the conditions of the approval,” the FDA said in a letter to the company on May 15,2017.

The FDA has also approved a new label and PET bottles to be introduced by the company, although it is yet to approve sample of the product.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)  ordered the manufacturers of Adonko bitters to recall the product from the market.

This is after the authority suspended the license of Angel Group of Companies the manufacturers of the bitters, slapping it with a GHC25, 000 fine for flouting regulations in organizing a concert.

Photographs circulating on social media show scores of young people who have passed out at the Baba Yara Sports stadium after excessive intake of Adonko bitters.

The incident occurred during an Easter Monday concert organized by the Angel Group.

Investigations conducted by the FDA  revealed that the patrons including minors were required to buy a bottle of the alcoholic beverage to gain access to the stadium. This resulted in excessive drinking thereby  flouting the regulation that prohibits the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18.