Techiman
| Techiman | |
|---|---|
 Techiman
|
|
| Coordinates: 07°34′38″N 01°55′45″W / 7.57722°N 1.92917°W | |
| Country |  Ghana |
| Region | Brong Ahafo Region |
| District | |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 80,000 |
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.
Contents |
[edit] History
Techiman is the legendary birthplace of all of the Akan peoples.[1] 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.
[edit] Politics and government
 |
This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. |
[edit] Transport
Techiman is connected by road to Sunyani and its airport.[1] 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.[2]
[edit] Demographics
| 1960 | 1970 | 1984 | 1989 | 2000 | 2005 | Recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,755[3] | 12,068[4] | 25,264[3] | 36,785 (projection)[5] |
56,187[3] | 65,137 (projection)[3] |
79,547 (projection)[4] |
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.
[edit] 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 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.
[edit] Sister city
Techiman, in partnership with nearby Sunyani, currently has a sister city relationship with:[6][7]
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
[edit] References
- ^ a b Warren, Dennis Michael (posted online 2001). "City of Techiman". Warren African Slide and VideoTape Collection. Special Collections Department, University of Iowa Libraries. http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/techiman.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "Cycling in Techiman" (PDF). The CCE Newsletter (Tema, Ghana: Centre for Cycling Expertise) 4 (1–2): 1. January-March 2008. http://www.centrecycling.org/docs/newsletters/Newsletter.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ a b c d "Techiman Municipal: Demographic Characteristics tables" (PDF). Ghana Districts. A Public - Private Partnership Programme between Min. of Local Govt., Rural Dev. & Environment (Government of Ghana) & Maks Publications & Media Services. 2006. http://www.ghanadistricts.com/pdfs/techiman-demo.pdf. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ a b "Techiman Municipal: Demographic Characteristics". Ghana Districts. A Public - Private Partnership Programme between Min. of Local Govt., Rural Dev. & Environment (Government of Ghana) & Maks Publications & Media Services. 2006. http://www.ghanadistricts.com/districts/?r=10&_=42&sa=4489. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ Dennis, Carolyne; Peprah, Ernestina (1995). "Coping with transition through organisation: Techiman Market, Ghana". In Sweetman, Caroline. Societies in Transition. Oxfam Focus on Gender. Oxfam. pp. 43–48. ISBN 0855983396.
- ^ "Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International". Tuscaloosa Sister Cities Commission. http://www.tuscaloosasistercities.com/. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
- ^ Turney Foshee (August 26, 2011). "Sister Cities delegates gather in Tuscaloosa to mark friendship". Tuscaloosa News. http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110826/NEWS/110829796/1007?Title=Sister-Cities-delegates-gather-in-Tuscaloosa-to-mark-friendship. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
Frank Asante in Abenim -Techiman- 14 December, 1990
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 07°34′38″N 01°55′45″W / 7.57722°N 1.92917°W
|
|||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
This Ghana location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
