News
Trouble looms in Ada …over missing names of Chiefs in festival brochure
Nene Kabu Abram Akuaku II
Trouble is looming in Ada over the omission of some chiefs in the official brochure for the recently held Ada Asafotufiami festival.
Notably from the Kabiawe Clans, the pictures and names of key chiefs such as Nene Owusie Sakpiti II, Nene Kabu Dzabaku Kubi V, the Ada State Dzase and Naana Dagojo Dumaaley I-Paramount Queenmother of Ada were omitted.
Also missing from the festival brochure was the Divisional Chief of Korgbor, Nene Akiti III.
There was, however the unauthorised inclusion of pictures and names of some individuals who were not chiefs nor members of the Ada Traditional Council yet featured on the brochure.
The development, according to a source close to the Ada Traditional Council (ATC), has angered the Paramount Chief Dzetse Nene Kabu Abram Akuaku III.
Consequently, the source indicated that the development could result in a crunch meeting by the Paramount Chief to resolve the issue and persons found culpable could be sanctioned according to the laws of the land.
The meeting would ultimately correct certain mistakes that occurred during the festival, strengthen the unity among traditional leaders, and safeguard the integrity of the paramountcy.
“The disagreements and disregard to higher authority in certain decisions greatly troubled the Paramount Chief. It has the tendency to embarrass the entire Ada State and disrupt one of the most prestigious festivals in Ghana, hence the need to call everyone to order,” the source told The Spectator.
According to the source, these and other unresolved matters were causing disunity and unrest within the traditional leadership, a situation he said does not augur well for development.
“We need to understand that in all things, Ada comes first, hence the need to put differences aside, become united, and work towards growth,” the source emphasised.
The source reminded that without unity and mutual understanding among the leadership, Ada would be denied of development.
The source highlighted the importance of identifying and addressing people within the leadership that may be hindering progress with their actions, stating, “We need peace and unity to progress, so if there are people in our ranks that are against that, then they must be dealt with according to the laws of the land.”
He stressed that the activities of the paramountcy must be handled professionally to protect its image and avoid such compromises in future.
He said in future, the backgrounds of people should be investigated before elevated to the status of chiefs to avoid such troubles.
This year’s Ada Asafotufiami festival, held on August 1-8, attracted thousands of guests and celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Ada State.
By Michael D. Abayateye
News
Ghana-Colombia strengthens ties through diplomatic engagement
In an important diplomatic engagement, the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Daniel Garces Carabali paid a courtesy call on the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, at his office in Accra to discuss some key areas of collaboration.
The meeting focused on pressing issues, including security, decongestion of Ghana’s prisons, prison reform programmes, training programmes, improving the welfare of prisoners and enhancing disaster management in the country.
The courtesy call underscores the growing bilateral ties between Ghana and Colombia, building on previous engagements, such as the visit of the Colombian Vice President to Ghana in 2023.
The meeting demonstrates the commitment of both nations to fostering cooperation and addressing shared challenges.
News
Ghana to host African Catholic Journalists from August 10
The Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press, in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), is set to host its prestigious Triennial Congress from August 10 to 17 August, 2025.
The programme would be held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Legon, Accra, Ghana.
This landmark event, the most significant gathering of Catholic journalists in Africa, will bring together media professionals, researchers, and experts in digital technology from across the continent and beyond.
The theme for the Congress is: “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Congress Highlights
The UCAP Congress 2025 will feature discussions and deliberations on critical issues arising from or related to integral human development, particularly within the framework of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Some of the key sub-themes to be addressed include:Corporate Social Responsibility in Managing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Values, Deploying AI in Eco-friendly Business Start-ups in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Technology and the Reprogramming of Social Reality, Distortion of Reality in Social and Digital Media, Ecological Education and Action Against Unsustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources, and Media and the Promotion of the Recommendations of the Synod on Synodality in Africa.
Participants will include media professionals from both ecclesiastical and lay organisations, media researchers and academics, representatives from the Vatican, government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the digital technology sector.
Objectives of the Congress
The primary goal of this Congress is to strengthen the capacities of media professionals and educate the public on the necessity of preserving human values amid rapid technological progress. Specific objectives include; Training 100 media practitioners in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, with a focus on balancing innovation and human values.
This will include promoting ethics and bioethics in technical research and technological innovations through media.
Advocating for human values such as respect for life, human dignity, charity, solidarity, and human rights and assessing the impact of technological progress to better understand the challenges, risks, and opportunities presented by AI will be part of the objectives.
UCAP is a continental organisation dedicated to promoting communication within the Catholic Church and its partners in Africa. With a mission to foster spiritual growth, collaboration, and responsible journalism, UCAP works to spread the Gospel, uphold human values, and support developmental initiatives across Africa and beyond.
UCAP is an independent, autonomous, non-political, and non-profit organisation comprising African Catholic journalists, communicators, academics, researchers, and institutions in various media fields.
