$1 Million Dollars For District, Municipal Assemblies Coming – Prez Mahama

By: Iddrissu A.Jara

The President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has stated beginning this year all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies would be allocated with $1 million each through the District Assembly’s Common Fund.

The President explained that the money would be used to rehabilitate old market structures and also build new modern one with improved facilities such as storage, to boost commercial activities and trading day and night to compliment the 24 hour agenda.

Speaking on behalf of the president at the 88th Anniversary of Asafotufiami Festival of the chiefs and people Ada in the Greater Accra Region over the weekend, the deputy chief of staff Mrs. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo assured the people of Ada of receiving their share of National cake.

She revealed that part of 5000 kilometers of roads to constructed in 166 constituencies identified, Ada would be benefiting from critical roads identified in the constituency namely: Kesseh to Ada foah, Adafoah to Totope, Togbloku to Aminapah/Medie and Kesseh to Assigbeykope.

Full statement below:

THE 88TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASAFOTUFIAMI FESTIVAL OF
THE CHIEFS AND PEOPLE OF ADA ON THE THEME PEACE, UNITY
AND JUSTICE: THE PILLARS OF OUR PROGRESS

The Paramount Chief and President of the Ada Traditional Area, His Eminence Nene Jetse Kabu Abram Akuaku III
Elders of the Ada Traditional Council; Other Royal Retinues in
Palanquine Visiting Chiefs from sister lands; Niimei Naamei

The Honourable Member of Parliament for the Good People of
Ada, Comfort Doyoe

The Honourable Member of Parliament of Ningo-Prampram, Mr. Sam Nartey George

The District Chief Executive, Kenneth Kabu Kanor
Assembly Members

The Good People of the Ada land
Tourists and Visiters, far and near
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Once upon a time, the founding fathers of the Dangbe-land, joined by other language-speaking tribesmen discovered and founded this land.

Originally made up of 4 groups, this empire now straddles 10 Clans
including Adibiawe, Lomobiawe, Terkpebiawe, Dangmebiawe, Kudragbe,Korgbor, Ohuewem, Kabiawetsu, Kabiaweyumu and Kponor.

These clans, diverse as they sound, are branches of one formidable tree, the Great
Ada. ASAFOTUFIAMI, a Festival of FIRING OF MUSKETRY, is one of the biggest and oldest annual celebrations by the Chiefs and People of Ada to mark the diversity and heroic bravery that our founding fathers lived by during the wars waged to discover the present day and identity of our people.

History tells that your founding fathers waged at least five (5) wars including those that far preceded this journey to discovery – The 1750 battle of Nonobe-Ada; the 1769 war agaisnt Anglo; the 1770 unsuccessful invasion of Aglo; the 1776 attack by Anglo and 1826 Kantamanso war.

In all these , you the people of Ada either triumph over your enemies to show your superiority in unity or you showed incredible strength, bravado and territorial superiorty in the face of the vagaries of war and conquest.

More significantly, this festival is a reflection on the peaceful coexistence of our people with diverse culture, tribes and heritage and the power concerted efforts in our struggle towards discovery.

The primary preoccupation of fishery and agriculture of Dangbe people have long established a unique story of oneness, communal support, peace and
tolerance.

Today the many tourists and visitors who have travelled far and near is another proof of the peaceful, tolerant and hospitable characteristics of the traditional authorities and good people of Ada. Even as our visitors
experience the colour and culture, they are assured of the abundant gifts of coastal breeze, green resorts and the floral atmosphere in your many tourist destinations in this area.

It therefore goes without saying that ASAFOTUAFIMI of the Chiefs and People of Ada is not only a reflection of rich culture and celebration of an enduring tradition of peace within clans, but also it serves as another
manifestation of Ghana’s modern day peaceful credentials, agricultural, cultural and tourism potentials.

It is why Ada occupies a special place in the heart of our president His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama who has asked me to first extend his congratulations to you on your 88th Edition of the ASAFO TUFIAMI.

The President has also asked me to say once more, THANK YOU, for giving him another opportunity to serve you and the people of Ghana; For your loyalty to his leadership and the Great NDC.

This year’s ASAFOTUFIAMI is historic. It is marked at a critical time when there is an urgent call for PEACE, UNITY AND TOLERANCE in some parts
of our country and on the African continent. More than ever, our people are called upon to live peacefully with all men whether or not the person hails from our ancestry or believes in our deity or belongs to the party we support or our social ideologies.

Development knows no party, religion, culture or tribe.

Violence, intolerance, lawlessness or divisive politics stifles and destroys the steady gains made by every community affecting
everyone irrespective of our differences.

This festival that seeks to
remember the selfless sacrifices of our forefathers must therefore
inculcate into us all especially our younger generation a renewed belief in tolerance and peaceful resolution of our conflicts.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is also a great time to reflect on the Reset
Agenda by his Excellency John Mahama. A journey of economic recovery aimed at, among other things, creating enough opportunities and development for our people of all regions.

Through our many policies from
the 24 Hour Plus, Edwumawura , the One Million Coder Programme under the Ministry of your proud son, Chairman for this event Sam Nartey George ; massive recruitment in the security services ; the reforms in our
fishery industry through intended legislations, among others, the
government is creating millions of jobs and opening up of economy for more opportunities for our teeming youth to earn decent living.

Across the world, peace and security is inextricably tied to jobs and decent living of our people. With the continued hard work of your MP, Hon Doyoe, Youths of Ada will surely have their share of these job opportunities.

Under the Big Push, which is one of the Pillars of the 24 Hour Plus
Economy, government is investing a record amount of 13.8 billion Ghana cedis into roads and infrastructure nationwide with cognizance of the peculiar resources and transportation needs of the area.

Already, thirty two (32) roads are to issued commencement authorization.

As announced by the finance minister at the Mid-Year Budget Review few days ago, as part of the Push, about 5,000 kilometres of roads would be reconstructed in 166 identified constituencies in dire need of road infrastructure over the next three years.

I am aware Ada is in dire need of roads, at least 4 critical roads namely the Construction of the road from

a. Kasseh to Ada – foah
b. Adafoah to Totope
C. Togbloku to Aminapah/ Medie
d. Kasseh to Assigbeykope

And I am reliably informed that the roads from Kasseh to Ada-Fpah and that from Adafoah to Totope are very critical to your economic fortunes.

I am sure considering the importance of Ada to our economy and the president, should this come to his attention, through the MP Hon. Doyoe, positive efforts will be made by government to attend to this concern.

Nene Kabu Abram Akuaku III,
I KPO O P333, ELEHU KAA NY3 JUA NY3 KASSEH K3 ADA – FOAH HIA DRAMI

• meaning, I AM ALSO AWARE THAT THE MARKETS IN ADA-FOAH
  AND KASSEH NEED URGENT REHABILIATION
  I am happy to note that this is one of the reasons the 24 Hour Economy is timely. As you may be aware already, under the policy there is annual allocation of 1 million dollars to each District Assembly through the
  Common Fund. Part of this allocation is to be used to build modern markets and rehabilitate old markets to ensure improved facilities such as storage, boost commercial activities and trading, day and night.

Not only that Nene, the annual allocation into the District Common Fund allocation under the broader 24-Hour Game-Changer is also aimed at
identifying peculiar challenges of communities such as those confronted by farmers and fishermen and to provide the needed industrial facilities
to boost commercial activities.

Ada is Ghana’s salt and mineral hub, and this blessing will not go untapped under the leadership of H.E John Dramani Mahama.

My People of Dangbe-land, your water challenges is being addressed and soon will be a thing of the past – In April 2025 during an Executive Ministerial Leadership Retreat here in Ada, your hardworking MP, Hon.
Doyoe took the opportunity to inspect an ongoing water project in the company of the Minister for Works and Housing, the National Chairman of the NDC, your DCE and Assembly Member for Pute Electoral Area.

I am happy to note that she is doing everything possible to resolve the prevalent water challenges in Otime-kope, Ocansey-kope, Mataheko,
Anyakpo, Adedetse-kope, Suntsokpa, Patukope, Elevanyo, Pute, Totopey and surrounding communities.

Government will continue to ensure that such laudable projects are given the needed push to bring relief to the people. As indicated earlier, government will ensure the Ada people get what is due them under the NDC Government.

Nene Kabu Abram Akuaku III,
the theme for this year is reaffirmation of the commitment of your eminent leadership to peace, stability and progress.

Your authority and that of
political leadership over the past years have ensured that peace and togetherness reigns within this community despite the genuine challenges over time. You and your people have lived up to the history of your ancestry and the youth in the community continue to show resilience,
highlighting the need for youth participation in national governance.

As you reflect on this milestone, there is the need to develop innovative ways to invest in the youth in women and who constitute the majority of
our national population and that of Ada.

This community is blessed with
abundance of resources. Technology and Artificial Intelligence offer multiple ways of accessing and unlocking the several potentials of our
people.

Tradition must not shy away from Technology. The Rest Agenda
extends to our way of perceiving things and generally our ways of life.

As government decentralises development, we must join hands to explore other communal initiatives to complement the efforts and foster shared
prosperity for one another and for the generations unborn.

I am confident the Dangbe-land will continue to flourish in leaps and bounds. I am confident our people will rise up to the occasion to maintain peace you have tirelessly protected over the past 80 years.

I am positive that with the right support and innovative thinking, this land will become a land of opportunities, growth and progress.

God bless our homeland Ghana and make her great and strong.
God bless the Gangbe-land and her people

I thank you all and wish you a historic festival.
TSWA TSWA IN OMANYE ABA!