Students researching into Techiman ancient remains

Techiman (B/A) Jan. 18, GNA - Fifty three students of the Archaeology Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, are on a 10-day working visit to the Techiman Municipality to excavate tombs, especially ancient remains.

The students, led by Dr. Kodzo Gavua, head of the department, Mr. James Boachie-Ansa, director of research and two technicians of the Department, would research and develop the relics of the area and stock them at a museum at Nsemankwa Cultural Village at Takofiano in the municipality.

The Nsemankwa cultural village is said to be the origin of the Fantes before they migrated to the coastal areas of the country. Speaking at a durbar to welcome the students, Nana Baffour Asare Twi-Brempong, Adontenhene of Techiman traditional area, through whose efforts the students would develop the cultural village, said Techiman had become a haven for business establishments. Nana Twi-Brempong said a five-acre land had been set aside for the development of the Nsemankwa cultural village and mentioned cultural sites in the municipality including Boten caves, sacred fish in the Tano River, Bat caves, Kristo Boase Monastery and the burial sites of the late Lords of Techiman, among others.

Oseadeeyo Akumfi-Ameyaw, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, thanked the department for the assistance to develop the cultural values

of Techiman. He said Techiman as the seat of ancient Bono Kingdom, was established more than 800 years ago and that some of its people were now domiciled in Fante land, Osu-Alata in Accra, Jaman district in Brong Ahafo and La Cote D'Ivoire. He called on elders to help support the students in the development of the relics of the great Kingdom.

Dr. Gavua said the department was not restricted to the campus alone as there was the need to go to the field as a challenge for the students to ensure that Ghanaian culture was respected instead of copying foreign cultural values. He presented two books of the research on the History of Techiman written by the late Dr. Effah Gyamfi of the University to the Omanhene.