Ada or Dangme is regarded as a community endowed with great people and great resources, but always lacking behind in terms of development and achievements.
But that trend is fast exiting the stage, giving way to a new growing trend of modern technology in news and information dissemination which seeks to promote the whole Dangmeland to bring about development, thanks to the emergence of the four major media of communication in the community, namely Television, Radio, Newspaper and News Website.
In February 1998, Radio Ada set the pace in Ghana as the first Community Radio station to be established in the country, and like it’s motto, has until recently, become the only “voice of the Dangme people” (Dangmeli agbi). This medium has in no small way contributed significantly in the development of the Dangme people. This unparalleled achievement cannot be mentioned without acknowledging the man who made it all happened, Prof. Alex Qyarmyne.
From 1998 till today is quite long but like the saying goes, better late than never, a new television channel, Mega TV, has been established and inaugurated at Kasseh-Ada in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region. It has began full operation and telecast in the local Ada dialect to it’s Dangme viewers.
MG TV, which is part of the planned series of the projects to be executed by Mega Investment and Communications Limited- Mega Group Of Companies is located at Mega City off Kasseh-Sogakope road, and their goal is to help develop the Ada communities through its coverage.
The board chairman, Rev. John Akplehe Ocansey says, the station has been set up by the authourisation of the National Communications Authority as a satellite channel and operate from SES satellite in Germany and on the multi platform.
But earlier, Dangme people in the Eastern Region- Yilo Krobo also established Rite fm in Somanya and KW Radio in Manya Krobo. Though both operate as commercial radio stations, most of their programmes are geared toward the development of the Dangme people.
This wonderful story of Ada is not ended yet. About three weeks ago at Dodowaa in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region, a Dangme Newspaper was launched with the aim of promoting the interest of the seven tribes of the Dangmeland, namely Ningo, Ada, Prampram, Osudoku, Krobo , Shai and Kpone. The team which put the newspaper together said its focus will be on stories of concern to the Dangme people.
The latest but not the least which has joined the bandwagon of communication media in Dangmeland is the website, www.adacommunityonline.com . This latest news portal is the handy work of a group of young natives from Sege, led by Godwin Alorgbey and Lewis Nenyewode Numekevor, who intend to use the medium in ‘giving our culture a voice.’
With this thoughtfulness on the part of those behind these positive innovations as far as communication and information sharing is concerned, the Dangme people cannot be said to be lacking behind at all.
We are on the up, hurray!
Credit: Noah Dameh
I am proud to hear and be associated with this. We need more of this information channels to be able to articulate our concerns and contribute our mind to the development of our native land. Aye koooo