A little over a year ago our minds were on a tragedy that took place at Ada- the disappearance of Hip life musician Castro, also known as Theophilus Tagoe and Janet Bandu. According to the narrative, the two were part of a celebrity team including Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan who had gone out to the Ada area to have a weekend fun.
As happens after such events, diverse versions of the story have cropped up. Some claim it was a scam and that the two have eloped. Others also say that only the lady drowned and the man, out of fear, is hiding from public view.
Yet other more sensational sources claim that the two are living underwater and have been spotted in a wedding ceremony in the water kingdom. This mysterious angle is further supported with references to Castro himself prophesying his own disappearance in his hit song ‘She Dey Do Me’
On a more serious note, the disappearance of the two has sent shivers down the spine of many who hear about the Ada beach front. Soon after the tragedy some patrons shied away from the beaches and resorts. But what does that place really offer? Is it worth the trouble visiting?
Ada is located at the mouth of the Volta River. The area is easily Ghana’s most extensive beach front destination. It has the sea, the Volta River and the Songhor Lagoon. What makes it special is the estuary, where the river flows into the sea. Imagine rainwater rushing from a drain into a big gutter. Now the energy and the splash in an estuary make it a thousand times more boisterous.
If you consider that spot as a place to slip that becomes a very scary prospect. One would be swallowed in seconds! But if you watch from a safe distance you’d appreciate the beauty of nature and most importantly, the works of God.
Ada boasts of exquisite beaches and gorgeous riverfront scenery. This place is famous for water sports such as swimming, sailing, fishing and boat cruises. There are paddle boats and pontoons for group fun. For speed enthusiasts one could rent speed boats and jet skis.
Hotels in the area include Aqua Safari, Dreamworld, Tsarley Korpey, Maks Resort and Ezime Guest House. For those who love fishing, excursions can be arranged. A ferry is also available for a cruise around the islands in the River Volta. With the help of the Wildlife Division, one gets the chance to go bird watching.
The Ada salt field offers visitors the opportunity to watch locals engage in an important livelihood activity. One can watch the stages of salt production: from inducing salt water from the ocean into the pans to dry and to washing and packing the salt into bags and loading them unto trucks.
There are three main markets in the Ada are. The big one is at Kasseh on Tuesdays and Fridays. The other two are at Ada Foah which falls on Saturday and every Wednesday and at Anyanui which is across the other side of the River.
Ada Foah provides the secondary venue for the annual Asafotufiami Festival that takes place during the first week of August. The main venue is Big Ada .
At Ada you don’t only have hours of exploring one of the most beautiful areas of Ghana, you are also in a vibrant trade zone. The place used to be a major trading center and trade was one of the main sources of income.
There were large warehouses for storing the trading goods close to the seaside. Its special location at the estuary ensured a quick transportation along the Volta River up to Salaga in the North. The economic activities reached a peak around 1901 when a transportation system called the Volta River Transport System was launched.
But the place has a history, an illustrious one, if you ask me. The Dutch were the first to open trade between Europe and Ada in the 16th century and built a new trading post here in 1775.
Later, the Danes, who at this time had power over the whole east coast of Accra took over. They remained in Ada for more than 100 years and had business relationships with the locals.
To defend their trading post against the attacking neighboring tribes, the Danes built Fort Kongenstein in 1783. Today only a little trace of Fort Kongenstein can be found in Ada; the most parts having been devoured by the ocean.
But while it stood in its hey days, the fort was the defining landmark of the area. In actual fact, the ‘foah’ in Ada is actually a corruption of ‘fort’. So now what are you waiting for to visit?
Credit: Kofi Akpabli, kofiakpabli@yahoo.com
The writer is a Communication and Tourism Specialist. Books he has authored include ‘Romancing Ghanaland- the Beauty of Ten Regions’, Tickling the Ghanaian-Encounters with Contemporary Culture & ‘Harmattan- a Cultural Profile of Northern Ghana.’
Comments 119