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Display of rich Ghanaian culture, tradition at Ada Asafotufiami
Naana Kabukuor Domaaley Dagojo I,
Queen of Kabiawe Clan
The glamour and thrills of the rich, unique and elegant Ghanaian culture and traditions were in full display last weekend as thousands thronged to Ada to witness the Asafotufiami festival
The week-long festival which began on August 4 to 9 at Ada in the Dangme East District of the Greater Accra Region is one of the biggest events in the region.
The festival had over the years become popular, attracting thousands of tourists who were usually entertained by the traditions and cultural activities on display.
This year’s festival, the 86th edition held under the theme, “Honouring our heroes, revamping natural resources and unlocking tourism potential,” was nothing short of the usual spectacle.
Among dignitaries attracted to the festival, were the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Greater Accra Minister, Henry Quartey, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Sarah Dugbakie Pobie and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the McDan Group, Dr Daniel McKorley.
The festival also attracted foreigners who took part in several activities led by vibrant youth groups and associations within Ada and beyond. The festival started on Wednesday, August 2 with the usual “homecoming” activities prior to the weekend as natives both home and abroad trooped to the host town, Big Ada where all the activities were held.
The activities commenced with a welcoming float on Thursday, August 3 which ushered in all individuals and groups who came to the town to celebrate the festival they held in high esteem. The float began from Big Ada through neighbouring towns including Kasserh, Sege, Ada Foah and ended at the starting point where the youth jammed until the break of dawn.
The clans include, Adibiawe, Lomobiawe, Terkperbiawe, Dangmebiawe, Kabiaweyumu, Kabiawetsu, Kabiakpono, Kudragbe, Ohuewem and Korgbor.
The clans took turns to pour libations and sought the permission of the ancestors heading into the week-long activities. After the last clan, usually Dangmebiawe had performed their rituals, they returned to a river in Big Ada where everyone including visitors washed their feet as a form of cleansing with the belief that the river would carry away their burdens and transgressions and give them renewed hope of prosperity into
By Michael D. Abayateye
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Focus on more pressing issues like Galamsey, not hate speech – Ellen Ama Daaku to Mahama
An aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,Ellen Ama Daaku has advised President John Dramani Mahama to shift his attention from social media hate speech to more urgent national issues such as illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview, she noted that the President’s recent comments about tracking the IP addresses of people who spread hate speech were unnecessary.
According to her, President Mahama must first define what he considers to be hate speech before seeking to punish people for it.
Ms. Daaku argued that the President himself had benefitted from hate speech and social media attacks in the past when he was in opposition.
She said even during his time in government, he described his opponents and their tribesmen in unpalatable terms, which later drew complaints from former President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
She stressed that harsh criticism of leaders on social media should not automatically be considered hate speech, adding that former leaders, including former President Nana Akufo-Addo had all been subjected to it.
“He is only feeling what Nana Akufo-Addo went through for eight years,” she remarked.
While acknowledging the need to regulate misconduct online, Ms. Daaku insisted that going after social media activists should not be a priority.
She noted that many political activists, including herself, had been insulted and attacked online but never called for arrests.
She concluded that President Mahama should focus his energy on solving pressing problems such as galamsey and the economy instead of concentrating on critics on social media.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Prof Alidu Seidu files nomination for Tamale Central seat
The newly elected parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Tamale Central, Prof Alidu Seidu, has submitted his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, he was the only person who had filed to contest the seat.
Nomination of candidates will close at the end of the day.
Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Tamale Central constituency with a landslide victory.
The elections, supervised by the party’s Elections and IT Directorate in the Northern Region, saw Prof. Seidu poll 840 votes out of the total valid ballots cast.
His closest contender, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, secured 536 votes.
The other aspirants could not make significant gains, with Dr. Seidu Fiter obtaining 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23 votes, and the rest recording fewer than 10 votes each.
In all, 1,500 ballots were cast, with 6 ballots rejected and 7 spoilt ballots recorded.
The results were signed and declared by Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, NDC Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) held parliamentary primaries in Tamale Central to choose a candidate for the upcoming by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Dr. Mohammed, who also served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District on August 6, 2025, alongside seven others.
His passing left the Tamale Central seat vacant, as required by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 30, 2025. While the NDC moved quickly to open nominations and vet aspirants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced it would not contest the seat, citing the need to respect the somber circumstances and promote national unity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
