The Goaso Traditional Council has banned Valentine’s Day celebrations in the Goaso traditional area.
This comes ahead of the late Paramount Chief’s one-week observance.
The declaration was delivered at a press conference, where council elders, clad in black, declared that any public display of Valentine’s Day celebrations would be unacceptable.
According to Nananom, the decision to prohibit the celebration is consistent with traditional norms and practices, which call for solemnity and reverence in the days preceding up to the late chief’s one-week funeral ceremonies.
While the council has not completely banned Valentine’s Day, it has warned that any open show of celebrations may result in the wrath of traditional authorities.
This regulation states that no decorations, public gatherings, or visual displays of Valentine-themed activities will be permitted in the Goaso traditional region on February 14.
The ban has elicited mixed reactions from people and on social media, with some applauding it as a sign of respect for history and others disappointed by the limits.