Historic Account Blog of Thursday, 3 October 2024
Source: Joshua Ofoe Asigbey
Chief Priest for Tekpebiawe Clan of Ada, Libi wɔnɔ has today successfully performed a traditional ritual for commencement of salt mining at the 'Yomo' concession of the Ada Songor.
The Tekpebiawe Clan are the Custodians of the Ada Songor for that matter the 'owners', therefore their Chief Priest will have to perform traditional rituals to grant access into the Songor lagoon for free salt mining.
Over thousands of people trooped to the mining site with people estimating that the mining can last for more than the regular 3 days mining due to the level of the salt.
'Yomo' is the deity salt mining site of the Ada Songor lagoon. It has a total land size of 1660 acres.
The Songhor Lagoon is a coastal lagoon on the eastern coast of Ghana, West Africa. The site covers an area of 28,740 hectares, and it is located just outside the major town of Ada and to the west of the Volta River estuary. It was designated as Ramsar wetland site of international importance number 566 on June 22, 1988.
In 2011, UNESCO approved the Songor Biosphere Reserve as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Among several other important functions, it acts as habitat and/or breeding ground for several notable species.
The site itself is a closed lagoon that is continually refilled by seepage, runoff, creeks, and streams. It is characterized by high salinity levels and surrounded by mudflats that are inundated for most of the year.
The soil is a tropical gray earth type with an unconsolidated sand, clay, and gravel composition. Up to a depth of 80 cm, visibility allows for a clear view of the bottom of the lagoon. High tide occurs at a depth of 1.98 m; at this point, water from auxiliary creeks can flow into the lagoon. Low tide occurs at 0.11 m.
Average temperature, rainfall, and humidity are 23-33 °C, 750 mm, and 60% respectively. The elevation varies between 15 m near the coast and up to 75 m above sea level.