President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Presidents, Jerry John Rawlings, John John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama and other dignitaries are expected to be in Navrongo in the Upper East Region, Thursday, June 29.
The late Navro-pio was a statesman who worked in various capacities to contribute to the development of the Upper East Region and the nation at large.
He was a learned and travelled man who used his knowledge and experience for the betterment of his people.
It therefore comes as no surprise top state officials are expected at the funeral.
The detailed programme of the funeral sighted by A1radioonline.com show that the President will be the Special Guest of Honour.
Meanwhile, a local journalist based in Navrongo, Pwadura George, captured the mood in the area in a Facebook post, describing town as a tourist site.
According to him, the Upper East Regional Security Council led by the Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari, paid a visit to the Chief’s palace ahead of the funeral to ensure there is peace before, during and after the funeral.
About the late Navro-Pio Dr. A. B. A. Adda
Pe Asagpaare I, known in private life as Dr. Augustine Atudeku Balinia Adda, was enskinned as the Chief of Navrongo on July 15, 1972 within the Kasena-Nankana traditional area.
He reigned for close to 43 years until his demise on September 13th, 2015.
Born on December 4, 1936 to Prince Arthur-Balinia Adda and Jemima Amonzem, he was the first born of his parents.
His father, Prince Arthur-Balinia Adda, was the first son of Chief Awoliba Adda, who reigned as the Paramount Chief of Navrongo from 1945 to 1970.
The late Navro-pio Dr. A.B.A Adda was the 15th Chief of Navrongo Traditional Area and was a direct descendant of Butu, the first Prince and Warrior who founded “Navoro” in the mid 17th century.
Read more about the late Navro-Pio Dr. A. B. A. Adda
He began his formal education at the St. Paul’s Primary School in Navrongo from 1945 to 1950.He then proceeded to St. Mary’s Middle School, also in Navrongo, from 1951 to 1953. After his middle school education in Navrongo, the then Prince Augustine Atudeku Adda proceeded to Wegbe Grammar School, from 1954 to 1955 and continued to Mawuli Secondary in Ho, both in the Volta Region, for his secondary school education from 1955 to 1959.
He fully adapted to his new environment and learnt how to speak Ewe fluently. Upon completion of his studies at Mawuli Secondary School, he returned to Navrongo and taught briefly at Navrongo Secondary School for 3 years.
Thereafter, he before proceeded to Kiev State University in Kiev-Ukraine, in the then USSR in 1961. He then transferred to the Moscow Agricultural Academy from 1962- 1967 to obtain an MSc in Agricultural Science and a PhD in Soil Science in 1971.
After completing his doctoral degree in the then USSR, he returned to Ghana and was enskinned Chief of Navrongo Traditional Area under the Skin Name “Pe Asagpaare I” on 15th July 1972.
During his reign of over 40 years as the Paramount Chief of Navrongo, he played major roles within the chieftaincy institution, both within and outside of the Kasena-Nankana traditional area, at regional and national levels. He was elected President of the Kassena-Nankana Confederation of Chiefs from 1975 to 1985.
The late Navro-pio was elected President of the Upper Regional House of Chiefs from 1982 to 1984 and became the Chairperson of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs’ Committee on lands in 1984. In the same year (1984) he was appointed the Vice President of the National Theater Endowment Fund Committee to promote culture and tourism. He was re-elected a member of the National House of Chiefs in 1989.
In fact, he was the longest serving President of the Upper Regional House of Chiefs and continued as the first President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs after the region was divided into two, the Upper East and Upper West regions. Under his Presidency of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, he worked for the elevation and creation of ten (10) Paramountcies for the Kassena-Nankana Federation of Chiefs.
The late Navro-pio, Dr. A.B.A Adda was the first of Christian Chiefs in the Kassena-Nankana area of his time and professed openly his Christian beliefs and faith and made time to regularly worship in church. He never failed in attending Mass Services at the Catholic Church in Navrongo.
He attended Mass Services daily and on Sundays, no matter the constraints on his time. Indeed, while he was bedridden both in Navrongo, and later in Dansoman in Accra, many Catholic priests visited and ministered to him. He received the necessary sacraments before passing on.
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