UNH Manchester To Host Ghanaian Chiefs At Open Forum On Sept. 15

The University of New Hampshire at Manchester will host two village chiefs from Accra, in the Eastern region of Ghana, at a community forum on Thursday, Sept. 15.

The chiefs are visiting the United States as guests of the Portsmouth-Greater Accra Sister City Connection. During their 10-day visit to New Hampshire, the chiefs will meet with representatives of community organizations, business, students and educators to promote cultural exchanges and develop academic and economic contacts.

The public is invited to attend an open reception and forum at UNH Manchester to meet with Nana Kwame Takyi I of Aburi and Nana Adu-Ampoma II of Kitase to learn more about their culture, traditions and roles as chief. The program begins at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 15, with a reception followed by the open forum at 5:30 p.m. The forum will be hosted by Robert Macieski, associate professor of history and vice chair of the President’s Commission on the Status of People of Color.

Nana Takyi and Nana Ampoma serve their communities in a civil capacity where they mediate between villagers on issues such as land disputes. (The term Nana is a sign of respect for chief.) Nana Adu-Ampoma II was born in 1949. He attended school at Bepoasea Village and was a teacher for two years before joining the Department of Cooperatives where he rose to the rank of principal cooperative officer. He was installed as chief of Ketase in 1995 and now serves as Kitasehene (Kitase chief) and Twafohene of Akupem Amafo Traditional Area.

Nana Kwame Takyi I was born in 1924 in Aburi where he attended primary and middle school. After trade school, he enlisted in the Ghana Police Service where he served the then president of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, with whom he went into exile in 1966. Upon the president’s death in 1972, he returned to Ghana and the Police Service. He attended Police College earning the rank of assistant superintendent. He retired in 1979 and was installed as chief in 1988.

Valerie Cunningham, one of the project’s organizers, explained that the chiefs come from small towns situated in the hills above Accra, Ghanaπs capital city. The elevated location provides cooler weather and many Ghanaians come to the towns on weekends to escape the heat and humidity of coastal Accra. Aburi, the larger of the two towns, is well known for its botanical garden, created by colonial British in 1890. The two towns are also home to many accomplished traditional wood carvers and drum makers.

For more information about the forum, please contact Ginger Lever at 641-4122.