Homowo Festival

The Ga land from its origins has been divided into three principal divisions namely,
1. Ga Mashi (Accra)
2 Dangme (to the east and north), and
3 Obutu or Awutu to the (east).

The Ga Traditional Council comprise of the following:
1 Ga Mantse (Head)
2 Gbese
3 Asere
4 Abola
5 Otublohum
6 Sempe
7 Ngleshi
8 Akunmadzen
9 Ngleshie Alata
10 Osu
11 La
12 Teshie
13 Nungua
14 Tema
15 Nai Wulomo
16 Sakumo Wulomo
17 Korle Wulomo

OSU: The clans of Osu are:
1 Osu Alata
2 Osu Ashanti
3 Anecho
4 Kinkawe

TESHIE
The first settlers of Teshie migrated from Teshi in Togo by Nuumo Trebi, and followed by Nuumo Nmati and his followers from La; followed by Nuumo Martey and his followers from Prampram; followed by some strangers from Fanti land (mainly fishermen), and other strangers from Ga Mashi in central Accra.
The clans of Teshie are as follows:
1. Numo Trebi we; 2.Numo Nmati we; 3.Numo Martey we; Krobo; 4 Krobo; 5.Kle Musum; 6. Agbawe; 7.Bajoku; and 8. Akoble.

LA: Akutsei or Clans of La are as follows:
1) Abese; 2) Kwei (Koi); 3) Abafun; 4) Nmati; 5) Lenshi; 6)Klan Naa; 7) Saishi/Anecho.

NUNGUA: Has two main faction, the Amanfa and Sanshi. From these two factions are formed eight clans of Nungua. The eight clans of Nungua are as follows:
1) Nii Mantse We; 2) Nii Moi We; 3) Nii Borte We; 4) Nii Adzin We;
5) Nii Borkwei We; 6) Nii Osokrono We; 7)Nii Odarteitse We; Nii Djenge We.

KPONE/TEMA MUNICIPALITY: comprises of the following clan:
1) Bediako We; 2) Kojo We; 3) Sanshi We.

ADA: Ada traditional format is like the other GaDangme subnations format. The are clans, clan houses, clan names coupled with divinities for each clan house and each clan. The two main divisions of ADA are Big Ada and Ada Foah. Ada clans are as follows: 1) Adibia We; 2) Lomobia We; 3) Tekperbia We; 4) Dangmebia We; 5) Ohuewen; 6) Korgbo; 7 Kudragbe; Kabiawetsu; 9) Kabiawemu; 10) Kpono.

DANGME TRADITIONAL AREAS: These include Ningo, Kpone, Osudoku, Prampram (Gbugbla), Agotime and Dodowa.

NINGO: The clans of Ningo traditional areas are as follows:
1) Lowerkpono; 2) Salosisi; 3) Tawiah Kwetey; 4) Adela; 5) Odoi;
6) Odoi; 7) Old Ningo; Labiawer clan and Lowerkpon.

PRAMPRAM: The clans of Prampram are as follows:
1) Dawhenya(Kle Chawenya); 2)Afienya (Kle); 3) Miotso (Lakpler); 4) Mobole (Kle); 5)Mataheko (Akuble); 6) Ablekuma (Lakpler); Obetseklu (Klu)

KROBO: The traditonal areas of Krobo comprise of Numo Awuley Kwao; Kwaku Darpoh; Tetteh Djan; and Miotso. Krobo has two main divisions, namely Yilo Krobo and Manya Krobo. Krobo clans are as follows: 1) Dawhenya; 2) Afienya (Kle); 3) Miotso; 4) Mobole (Kle); 5) Mataheko (Akuble); 6)Ablekuma(Kakple) and 7)Obtseklu.

AWUTU/Obutu. Awutu comprises of Awutu Breku and Awutu Effutu. The clans of Awutu are:
1)Rumanian; 2) Dwomona; 3) Nzakara; 4) Kirundi; 5)Avikam; 6) Kissandaui; 7) Awutua; Twidan; 9)Bimoba and 10) Mo clan.

GADANGME FESTIVALS
1. Homowo Festival
2. Awutu Awubia Festivals
3 Krobo Festivals are: Kloyosikplemi; Ngmayem; Lapomi and
Kadoba Fiame.
4. Ada celebrate Asafotufiam; Ngmayem
5. Nungua celebrates KLEDZO Festival.

FEMALE INITIATION: Dipo
Otufo in Ga traditional areas.
Dipo in Dangme traditional areas
Both Otufo and Dipo are the same customs and they mark the passage of girls into womanhood by performing series of rites.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF GADANGMES TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF GHANA.
Here, this website highlights some of the achievements and contributions of GaDangmes to the development of Ghana. It is acknowledged that other ethnic groups in Ghana have made significant contributions to Ghana’s development. However, the focus here in about GaDangme contributions.
1. Economic
Tetteh Quarshie brought cocoa beans to Ghana from Fernado
po in 1877. He planted the seeds at Mampong in 1879. Since
then cocoa export has been the backbone of Ghana’s economy.

Kwei Nungua:
Kwei (Quaye) Nungua was an enterpreneur and a philantropist, who owned farms at Oyibi and Ofankor. He also owned fishing trawlers in the 1960’s and 1970’s . Quaye Nungua was considered as the Best Famer in 1972/1973.
He contributed very significantly to education in Nungua and Ghana. Quaye Nungua established the Nungua Secondary School. Prior to that, hae had donated his building for Emergency Teacher Training, when the Gold Coast (now Ghana) was in need of trained teachers to meet the nation’s pendinng educational needs. Quaye Nungua built and donated to the Nungua Presbyterian Church, the Nungua Presbyterian Middle School )The Nungua youth used to attend middle school at Teshie and Osu Salem).

When the Opportunities Industrialization Centers, OIC, came to Ghana in the 1970’s, Quaye Nungua donated his three-storey, six-apartment building to them for free for three years while they settle in Ghana; many were those who had their beginnings from there.

Quaye Nungua established the Quaye Nungua Preparatory School, which he donated to the Roman Catholic Church to become the Nungua Roman Catholic Primary School.
This website, and most likely, many GaDangmes and Ghanaians alike, wish to thank Quaye Nungua for his immense benevolent deeds and sacrifices he made for GaDangmes, and indeed, Ghana. We pray that GaDangme youths of today will emulate Quaye Nungua’s effort and great deeds. Quaye Nungua, “oyiwala donn”.

Late Nii Larbi Mensah II (a.k.a Ataa Ahia), Atofomantse of Nii Sempe Mensa stool:
Nii Larbi Mensah II owned and operated transport lorries that carried goods from the Tema Habour to Accra and interior parts of Ghana. His tipper trucks supplied sand from Accra beaches and quarries to several building sites, both private and government. He owned building material stores at Tudu, Accra. His business played a major role supplying building materials during the construction of the Ambassador Hotel in 1951; as well supplied gravel during the construction of Ring Road and other constructions in Accra . His business supplied building materials to contractors such as Taylor Woodrow, A.G. Lang and had business dealings with R.T.Briscoe. He owned a cocoa farm at Ashikensu. Nii Larbi Mensah II was one of the major racing horse owners in Accra, and indeed, Ghana during his time. He was probably the only traditional ruler in Ghana during the 1940s, 1950s and the 1960s who only owned racing horses. Nii Larbi Mensah’s II’s business associates at his time include, Alhaji Norgan, Hon. Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, Yaw Ginn, Darku Mpontima, C.C.K.Baah, Wiafe, Mr. Reibeiro (a.k.a Papa Owuratu, Racing horses owner, famous Jockey and trainer; as well as Asafoatse of the Gbese Mantse Stool in Accra), to name a few.

2. Political:
In 1947, Dr.Ako Adjei, a Ga lawyer, recommended to the United Gold Coast Convention to appoint Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as the Secretary General of the U.G.C.C. The post was originally offered to Ako Adjei. He declined the offer and instead recommended Kwame Nkrumah for the post. Later, Ako Adjei convinced Kwame Nkrumah to return to the Gold Coast from Britain to take up the post. Nkrumah returned to the Gold Coast in 1947.

In 1948, NII KWABENA BONE, Osu Alata Mantse, organised the total boycott of European exports and good in Ghana. He was supported by Kofi George Konuah, Richard Akwei, and Halm Addo, both GaDangmes.

Again, on February 28, 1948, two GaDangmes, Sergeant Adjetey and Private Odartey Lamptey along with an Ewe, Coporal Attipoe shed their blood for Ghana at the Crossroad junction, Osu. Sergeant Adjetey had led unarmed ex-servicemen to the Governor’s castle to submit a petition. They were shot by British service men.
The death of these three gallant and heroic Ghanaians led to looting of European goods and stores in Accra and elsewhere in Ghana.

Also, the support given in Ga lands by Ga Makola women, our fishermen and ordinary GaDangme to Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah and the Convention Peoples’ Party played a vital role towards the attainment of Ghana’s political independence on March 6, 1957. Such names as “Deedei Ashikinshan”, Aunti Naa Amerle and many others should be remembered for their heroism, patriotism and the giant contributions they made toward Ghana’s political emancipation!