Discontent Mars 88th Asafotufiam as Residents Blame Organizers, Traditional Council for Bowing to External Forces

What was meant to be a celebration of tradition, unity, and ancestral valor at the 88th Asafotufiam Festival turned into a platform for discontent and protest, as residents from communities surrounding the Songor Lagoon accused festival organizers and the Ada Traditional Council of selling out to corporate and political interests.

The residents, many of whom are traditional salt winners and youth activists, expressed outrage over what they described as their calculated exclusion from the event and the increasing grip of Electrochem Ghana Limited—a private salt mining company—on the region’s cultural and economic life.

Presidential Absence Fuels Frustration

Expectations were high among residents to directly engage President John Dramani Mahama at the durbar grounds, where they had hoped to voice their grievances over alleged forced takeovers of community lands and human rights violations linked to Electrochem’s operations.

However, those hopes were dashed when the President was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo.

“We were prepared to meet the President face-to-face, to speak our truth about the land and the brutality. But once again, they have shielded him from our cries,” lamented a resident from Goi.

Disorganized Durbar Amid Heavy Sponsorship

Despite reports of significant financial sponsorship from Electrochem Ghana, many attendees criticized the durbar’s organization. Adding to the discontent, the Chairman for the occasion, Samuel Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, departed midway through the program. “Our tradition is being commercialized. This is no longer Asafotufiam; it is Electrochem-tufiam,” a visibly agitated youth stated.

Notable Absences and Alleged Political Snubs

Controversy also surrounded the conspicuous absence of Hon. Daniel Keshi Bessey, MP for Sege, from both the program lineup and the official brochure. Bessey, who has consistently criticized Electrochem’s operations and advocated for affected communities, was not listed among dignitaries or acknowledged at the event—a move many saw as a political exclusion backed by traditional authorities.

In response, an open letter from concerned citizen Daniel Busumprah questioned the integrity of the organizers: “Is Ada West no longer part of Great Ada? Has tradition now become a tool to reward silence and punish truth?”

The letter further warned that continued exclusion and perceived partisanship could fracture the unity of Ada and undermine the authenticity of its cherished customs.

Presidency Responds Through Envoy

Delivering President Mahama’s message, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo assured the community that the government was aware of the ongoing tensions and would soon respond with decisive measures.“President Mahama is deeply aware of the situation around Songor. He has engaged the relevant parties, and a firm decision will follow shortly,” she said.

Local Leaders Challenge Development Claims

Earlier, some local NDC executives dismissed claims that Electrochem Ghana had brought development to the area. They pledged to stand by the people in their quest for justice and equitable resource management. “Apart from sponsoring this festival and being linked to alleged brutality against residents, Electrochem has done little to uplift the lives of the people. Communities remain impoverished, displaced, and unheard,” Assembly Members from Koluedor emphasized.

A Festival of Division, Not Unity?

Rather than unifying the people of Ada, the 88th Asafotufiam Festival laid bare the growing rift between citizens, traditional leadership, and political stakeholders. What should have been a proud cultural event has now become a symbol of deepening mistrust and unresolved grievances.

As the drums of Asafotufiam fade, the people of Ada remain resolute—calling for truth, justice, and the restoration of dignity for their communities, even in the face of rising external pressures.