stephen ababio

Cultural practices play significant role in the conservation of forests and other reserves. Though these cultural practices play huge roles in Ghana, particularly in Asante community, less attention has been given to them. In most communities, these cultural practices of forest preservation are relatively lacking but we have forgotten that most of the forest reserves that Asante community and, for that matter Ghana, can boast of today are those that were preserved centuries ago through the indigenous cultural beliefs and practices. The primary aim of the study was to bring to fore how culture has helped and is still helping in conservation and sustainability of Numafoa forests. The qualitative methods of collecting and analyzing data were utilized. Interviews and observation were the main data collecting instruments used. Results showed that Numafoa forest is believed to be a living realm full of potential powers and abode of a goddess, dwarfs and other spirits. Moreover, the cultural practices associated with Numafoa forest have contributed and are still contributing so much to its conservation and sustainability. Since cultural practices such as myths and taboos are useful in the conservation and sustainability of biodiversity, it is recommended that opinion leaders and policy makers should help espouse these cultural practices to form part of every society's code of ethics, ethics that can be nurtured as character traits through the various developmental stages of every individual so that these cultural modes of conserving biodiversity would be part of the behavioural pattern of the individuals in the society.

The primary aim of this study is to make the indigenous cultural ways of identifying diseases known in order to promote and remove the mystery and superstition associated to them. Due to the nature of the study, the purposive sampling technique was largely employed. Interviews and observations were the main data collecting instruments used. The four study areas which are Bongari Shrine at Adumakasekese, Asuo Abresua Shrine of Ahwirewam, Bokankye Akua Gyabon Shrine (currently situated at Mankranso Peposo), and Apomasu Kwao Shrine of Ntensere were purposively selected. The study revealed that the traditional healers use items ranging from natural to artificial such as eggs, talismans, cowries, money and other objects to diagnose various diseases. In diagnosing of diseases, the traditional healers take a holistic approach which are the social, natural, spiritual and the cosmic environment which are not in the case of the orthodox medication. It is therefore important for government and stakeholders to give recognition to these diviners and spiritual healers by putting up nice buildings (clinics and hospitals) and providing them the necessary needs like what they have been doing for the orthodox health centres and if possible integrate the traditional medication into the orthodox ones.