By: Henrietta Afful
The Ada people of Ghana’s Greater Accra Region have once again lit up the cultural calendar with the 88th celebration of the Asafotufiam Festival—an annual spectacle of musketry, tradition, and ancestral pride. With the theme “Peace, Unity and Justice: The Pillars of Our Progress,” this year’s festival blends colourful pageantry with a powerful message of unity and cultural preservation.
The festival officially began on Sacred Friday, August 1, 2025, as clan leaders visited the sacred ancestral grounds to swear an oath of allegiance to the forebears—especially the warlords whose courage secured Ada’s homeland. Current warlords also pledged to preserve and honour their ancestors by upholding the festival’s legacy each year.
The highlight of the celebrations came with the grand durbar, a vibrant cultural gathering led by Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Paramount Chief of Ada, along with sub-chiefs, queen mothers, and heads of the ten Ada clans.
Dressed in regal traditional attire, they paraded through the community to the sound of drums and chants, greeted by thousands of cheering residents and visitors.
The Asafotu warrior groups provided a powerful reenactment of historic battles through coordinated musketry, honouring the warrior spirit of their ancestors.
The durbar drew prominent dignitaries, including the Nungua Mantse, affirming solidarity among Ga-Dangme states.
President John Dramani Mahama, was represented by Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, Nana Oye Lithur. Also in attendance were Ada MP Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Akweley Ocloo, and Minister of Communications and Ningo-Prampram MP Samuel Nartey George, who called on the Ada people to continue preserving the Asafotufiam Festival as a vital symbol of identity, resilience, and unity.
As the week unfolds, the celebration continues with a lineup of activities including a community-wide open-air church service on Sunday, beach parties, river excursions, boat races, and football matches, bringing together locals and members of the diaspora in a joyous homecoming that honours Ada’s enduring spirit.
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All set for 2025 Asafotufiam Festival in Ada
