By: Jerry Decker
The annual Asafotufiami has climaxed at Ada in the Greater Accra Region. The 2023 event is the 86th in a series.
The festival provides an opportunity to demonstrate hospitality and generosity by welcoming visitors from near and far and calling for unity, respect, and love both during and after the celebration.
The Chiefs and Queens representing the various clans made a 4 kilometer journey from the Ada Lenobinya gardens to Luhuese where they performed rituals in the sacred forest to seek divine blessings from their ancestors.
The Paramount Chief of Ada Nene Abraham Kabu Akuaku also received greetings from the Sub-Chiefs at Lenobinya where he later led the entire Community to cleanse their feet in the Volta River, to wash away bad omens in the entire traditional area.
President Akufo Addo graces ceremony:
On Saturday, President Akufo Addo who joined the durbar of Chiefs and people, promised to complete the Sege District Hospital before the end of 2023.
The District Hospital which was one of the government’s agenda 111 project is now 40% complete.
The President also promised to honor the plea by the Paramount Chief of Ada Traditional Area Nene Abraham Kabu Akuaku , for the completion of the abandoned Kasseh- Ada -Foah road and the extension of the Sea Defense Project.
Asafotufiami is celebrated in the first week of August.
Historically, the Asafotufiami Festival is a remembrance of ancient wars with neighboring tribes such as the Ewes.
The “Asafotu” are companies of warriors who fire their muskets in celebration. These days, the festival is a grand Homecoming for the Ada Diaspora.