Don’t trade our culture for modernity - Paramount Chief of Talensi Traditional Council

Ghanaians have been impressed upon to jealously protect the rich cultural heritage and not give room for influx of foreign behaviors to takeover.

Addressing a durbar to mark the 2020 Timaalungo Lagog at Tongo in the Talensi District of Upper East Region,President and Paramount Chief of Talensi Traditional Council,Tongraan Naab Kugbilsung Nalebg-tang said the rate at which modernity has taken over the indigenous culture was alarming and needed to be curbed.

The Tongrana lamented that the situation has created disunity among the citizenry which does not represent the core values of the Ghanaian society and must not be allowed to continue.

He therefore appealed to the people of Talteng and the entire Ghanaian society to rather project rich historical tourists sites to attract international investors into the country.

“There is the urgent need for us to preserve our culture in the wake of modernization that has come with some abandonment and demonization of our culture. Our culture is our unique identity. Once we identify ourselves as one people, it helps us to be united. As Talensis we must continue to exploit this and eschew conflict. The traditional area is endowed with several historical and tourist sites”

“These include the Tengzuk Shrines and Caves, the Wakii Caves, the entire stretch of Whistling Tongo Hills and the Home of the first Tongraan now called Gingaung Puhik. The caves were used as hiding places and defence bunkers by our people against slave raiders and British invasions for conscripts into the military for the first and second world wars” He stated.

The Paramount Chief however called on government to create a convenient environment for the tourism sector to strive.Meanwhile,He also used the opportunity to announce the intention of the Talensi Traditional Council to construct a museum as part of measures to preserve the cultural heritage of the area.

“We will continue to call for support from government, non-government organizations and private investors to help in developing some of these sites for tourism purposes and to create employment and other related economic activity in the traditional area. To this end, the Talensi Traditional Council has plans to construct a cultural museum” He said.