The 88th Asafotufiam Festival in Ada, meant to celebrate tradition, unity, and ancestral heritage, was marred by discontent and accusations of betrayal, as residents of communities around the Songor Lagoon expressed outrage over their exclusion and the growing influence of corporate interests on cultural affairs.
Many aggrieved residents, including traditional salt winners and concerned youth, were visibly disappointed after failing to confront President John Dramani Mahama during the grand durbar. The President, though expected, was absent and represented instead by his Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo. This development deflated the hopes of residents who had planned to present their grievances over the operations of Electrochem Ghana Limited, which they accuse of forcibly taking over the Songor Lagoon and destroying livelihoods.
“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,” said a resident from Goi.
The disappointment was compounded by what many described as a poorly organized durbar — despite heavy financial sponsorship from Electrochem Ghana.
The Chairman for the occasion, Samuel Nartey George, MP for Ningo Prampram could not stay until the program is closed, he left just before the middle of activities.
Some community members described the festival as being “hijacked” by corporate and political interests. “Our tradition is being commercialized. This is no longer Asafotufiam; it is Electrochem-tufiam,” a visibly angered youth remarked.
Further stirring tension was the absence of Sege Member of Parliament, Hon. Daniel Keshi Bessey, from the program lineup and the official brochure. The lawmaker, who has been vocal about the plight of the Songor communities and critical of Electrochem’s operations, was not featured in the brochure as a member to the high table nor mentioned in the official proceedings — a move widely seen as a political snub orchestrated through traditional leadership.
An open letter, authored by concerned resident Daniel Busumprah, posed pointed questions to the Ada Traditional Council and the 88th Asafotufiam Planning Committee:
“Is Ada West no longer part of Great Ada? Has tradition now become a tool to reward silence and punish truth?”
“Is it because Hon. Bessey echoed the voices of the voiceless that he has been erased from his own land’s celebration?”
The letter warned that such exclusion, if true, threatens not only the unity of Ada but the integrity of its cherished customs. It urged elders to resist any attempts to divide the people based on corporate loyalties or political alignments.
During the event, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, representing President Mahama, assured residents that their petitions had reached the highest office and that decisive action would be announced soon.
“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.
Some NDC Constituency executives earlier debunked narratives suggesting that Electrochem Ghana had brought meaningful development to the area. They have pledged to support the locals to fight for their rights.
“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 for Koluedor added.
The 88th Asafotufiam Festival, instead of being a moment of communal pride, revealed deepening cracks in Ada’s sociopolitical fabric — with residents accusing the Traditional Council and organizers of sacrificing the soul of the community at the altar of financial influence.
As the dust settles on the festival, one message from residents remains clear: they will continue to demand justice, accountability, and the restoration of their rights and dignity.