Techiman
Encyclopedia
Techiman is the leading market town
in Ghana
and is, together with Sunyani
, one of the two chief cities of the Brong-Ahafo Region
. This city of nearly 80,000 is located at a historical crossroads of trade routes and the Tano River
, and serves as capital of the Techiman Municipal District
.
s. The Fante people, according to their oral tradition, migrated from Techiman to found the coastal Mankessim Kingdom
in 1252.
After Bono Manso, capital of the Bono state, was taken by the Ashanti Empire
in 1723, refugees settled in Techiman and founded the Bono-Techiman state in 1740 under Ashanti sovereignty.
and its airport. The city is not yet serviced by the Ghana Railway Corporation
, but it has been proposed that a line be extended there. The Tano River
is a navigable river.
A study of traffic in the city in March 2007 found a breakdown of 34% for taxis, 31% for pedestrians, 10% for buses and vans, 7% for bicycles, 6% for motorbikes, 5% for cars and 7% for "other" modes of transportation. Of bicyclists, a focus of the study, 49% traveled for work, 18% for school ,14% for recreation and 6% for touring.
The population has grown rapidly in recent decades, doubling between the 1970 and 1984 censuses, and again doubling by the next census in 2000. The recent estimate of 79,547 is nine times the population that the city had in 1960 at Ghana's independence.
Techiman celebrates the annual Apoo festival
in April/May - a kind of Mardi Grass. Before 2009, the celebration of Apoo had been suspended for several years due to the death of a Bono king.
During the Apoo festival men dress up as women and vice versa. Other festival participants paint themselves white.
Apoo allows open expression of opinion without any consequences. Local and national authorities are confronted with the views of the simple people. Especially cases of corruption are denounced. On the other hand reconciliation stands central: family disputes are settled preferably during Apoo.
The climax of the Apoo is the durbar of the king (Omanhene
) through the city.
In August the annual Yam festival takes place. It marks the end of the first rainy season and harvesting of the yam in the region of Techiman and Wenchi.
, United States
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
and is, together with Sunyani
Sunyani
Sunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
, one of the two chief cities of the Brong-Ahafo Region
Brong-Ahafo Region
The Brong-Ahafo Region is located in mid-western Ghana, between the Ashanti Region and the Northern Region. Its capital is Sunyani.This region was created in 1958. It contains many cultural and wildlife attractions, but it is less known to tourists than the Ashanti, Northern, Central, or Greater...
. This city of nearly 80,000 is located at a historical crossroads of trade routes and the Tano River
Tano River
The Tano or Tanoé River is a river in Ghana. It flows for 400 kilometres from Techiman to Ehy, Tendo and finally Aby Lagoon where it enters the Atlantic Ocean...
, and serves as capital of the Techiman Municipal District
Techiman Municipal District
The Techiman Municipal District is a district of Ghana in the Brong Ahafo Region.-Sources:* senior high school are :TECHIMAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLAKUMFI AMEYAW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLTUOBODOM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BY:KAKAFU...
.
History
Techiman is the legendary birthplace of all of the Akan peopleAkan people
The Akan people are an ethnic group found predominately in Ghana and The Ivory Coast. Akans are the majority in both of these countries and overall have a population of over 20 million people.The Akan speak Kwa languages-Origin and ethnogenesis:...
s. The Fante people, according to their oral tradition, migrated from Techiman to found the coastal Mankessim Kingdom
Mankessim Kingdom
The Mankessim Kingdom was a pre-colonial African state in modern-day Ghana. It is regarded as the heartland of the Fante people, and operated as capital of the Fante Confederacy in the 19th century. The town of Mankessim still exists and is located in the central region of Ghana, about an hour and...
in 1252.
After Bono Manso, capital of the Bono state, was taken by the Ashanti Empire
Ashanti Empire
The Ashanti Empire , also Asanteman was a West Africa state of the Ashanti people, the Akan people of the Ashanti Region, now in Ghana. The Ashanti or Asante are a major ethnic group in Ghana, a powerful, militaristic and highly disciplined people of West Africa...
in 1723, refugees settled in Techiman and founded the Bono-Techiman state in 1740 under Ashanti sovereignty.
Transport
Techiman is connected by road to SunyaniSunyani
Sunyani is a city in the West African republic of Ghana, and is the capital of the both the Sunyani District and Brong-Ahafo Region.According to the 2005 population estimates 80,245 people reside in the city of Sunyani, with a growth rate, in the city, of 3.4% per annum.-History of...
and its airport. The city is not yet serviced by the Ghana Railway Corporation
Ghana Railway Corporation
Ghana Railway Corporation operates the railways of Ghana. The Ghana Railway Company Limited is a public-sector body with responsibility for the efficient management of the national rail system so as to enhance the smooth movement of goods and passengers....
, but it has been proposed that a line be extended there. The Tano River
Tano River
The Tano or Tanoé River is a river in Ghana. It flows for 400 kilometres from Techiman to Ehy, Tendo and finally Aby Lagoon where it enters the Atlantic Ocean...
is a navigable river.
A study of traffic in the city in March 2007 found a breakdown of 34% for taxis, 31% for pedestrians, 10% for buses and vans, 7% for bicycles, 6% for motorbikes, 5% for cars and 7% for "other" modes of transportation. Of bicyclists, a focus of the study, 49% traveled for work, 18% for school ,14% for recreation and 6% for touring.
Demographics
| 1960 | 1970 | 1984 | 1989 | 2000 | 2005 | Recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (projection) |
(projection) |
(projection) |
||||
The population has grown rapidly in recent decades, doubling between the 1970 and 1984 censuses, and again doubling by the next census in 2000. The recent estimate of 79,547 is nine times the population that the city had in 1960 at Ghana's independence.
Culture
Techiman has started the construction of a modern culture centre. The purpose of the centre is the preservation of the traditions of the Bono nation.Techiman celebrates the annual Apoo festival
Apoo festival
The Apoo Festival is celebrated annually in Ghanaian cities like Techiman, Nkoranza and Wenchi in April/May.Below is an excerpt from an article discussing the origins and practice of Apoo...
in April/May - a kind of Mardi Grass. Before 2009, the celebration of Apoo had been suspended for several years due to the death of a Bono king.
During the Apoo festival men dress up as women and vice versa. Other festival participants paint themselves white.
Apoo allows open expression of opinion without any consequences. Local and national authorities are confronted with the views of the simple people. Especially cases of corruption are denounced. On the other hand reconciliation stands central: family disputes are settled preferably during Apoo.
The climax of the Apoo is the durbar of the king (Omanhene
Omanhene
In several Akan nations of Ghana, the Omanhene is the title of the supreme traditional ruler in a region or a larger town. The omanhene is the central figure and institution of the nation. He has no function in the Ghanaian state, but has an enormous effect on the people that constitute it.The...
) through the city.
In August the annual Yam festival takes place. It marks the end of the first rainy season and harvesting of the yam in the region of Techiman and Wenchi.
Sister city
Techiman, in partnership with nearby Sunyani, currently has a sister city relationship with: Tuscaloosa, AlabamaTuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
, United States