The Ada Traditional Council (ATC) has decided to lift the ban that had previously barred Radio Ada from covering the Asafotufiami Festival, a key event in the Ada Traditional Area’s cultural calendar.
The announcement was made by Nene Agudey Obichere III, the ATC spokesperson and chairman of the Asafotufiami Festival Planning Committee, during a meeting held on July 22, 2024. This decision marks the end of a two-year exclusion that began in 2022.
Radio Ada’s coverage ban was implemented after the station reported on the controversial salt mining concession awarded to Electrochem Ghana Limited, a subject that remains under legal scrutiny.
This ban not only restricted Radio Ada from covering the festival but also led to an incident on January 13, 2022, where armed individuals attacked the station’s premises, assaulting staff and damaging equipment.
Nene Obichere III described the lifting of the ban as a gesture of reconciliation, aligned with the festival’s spirit of unity and healing. “Things cannot go on forever,” he remarked. “Radio Ada is back, and we are pleased with their return. It was never our intention to maintain the ban indefinitely.”
The meeting also included four prominent traditional priests who had previously abstained from participating in the festival due to their opposition to the Electrochem lease. These priests, who play a significant role in festival rituals, had joined forces with critics of the lease agreement. Their absence had further fueled tensions surrounding the festival.
Radio Ada has responded positively to the council’s decision. Gideon Amanor Dzeagu, the station’s Programme Officer, expressed appreciation for the move and reaffirmed the station’s dedication to community service and its role as a watchdog, as guaranteed by Ghana’s 1992 constitution. “We are prepared to mend any misunderstandings and continue serving our community as before,” Dzeagu said.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has welcomed the council’s decision, seeing it as a step towards renewed cooperation between the station and traditional authorities. Muheeb Saeed, MFWA’s Manager for Freedom of Expression, hoped this would pave the way for future collaboration that benefits the local area.
Market woman Dzigbordi Osabutey, a loyal listener of Radio Ada, also expressed joy over the news. She emphasized that the station’s presence is crucial for the festival’s success, noting that without Radio Ada, the community would be deprived of vital information and coverage.
The Asafotufiami Festival is an important cultural celebration in the Ada Traditional Area, commemorating historic battles and welcoming members of the Ada diaspora. Radio Ada has been a significant broadcaster of the festival’s events since its establishment in 1998, making its exclusion in 2022 a notable loss.
In August 2022, it was reported that Radio Ada was excluded from covering the festival due to alleged use of “unrefined language” in their reports.
The Ghana Journalists Association, along with other media advocacy groups, criticized the ATC’s decision as an infringement on media freedom, leading to further scrutiny and subsequent resolution of the issue.
tigpost.co