Mankesim Things to Do

The three men with swords seen on the first floor of the shrine represent the three warriors that led the Fante people from Techiman. They are fr4om right to left, Obrumankoman (the whale), Odapagyan (the eagle) and Oson (the elephant). Only Odapagyan and Oson are seen in the photograph.

Situated on both sides of the Ghana Coat-of-Arms is a bongo antelope.

The bongo is a very wild animal and avoids human beings, it attacks only when provoked. It grows an antler every year. One can thus determine its age from the number of antlers it processes. To the Fante people, the bongo is sacred and must therefore not be killed. Its message is that you should not provoke your neighbour but you may retaliate when attacked.

With seven heads, two wings and a tail holding a bow and arrow, this god is believed to see everywhere without turning the head. Legend has it that this god, when called upon to punish someone, is able to locate that person no matter where he or she may be. The errand servant of the god is represented by a dragon with three heads and two wings situated on the god’s head.

The word ‘posuban’ is a combination of the corrupted form of the English word ‘post’ (‘posu’) and the Fante word ‘ban’, meaning ‘fortification’. A ‘posuban’ is the religious centre of an ‘Asafo’ company. ‘Asafo’ is a Fante military organization. The word Asafo comes from the word ‘sa’ meaning ‘war’ and the plural suffix ‘fo’ meaning ‘warriors’.

After the people had settled down in Mankessim, the bodies of the two warriors that led them here were laid to rest at the outskirts of toen. Thir burial place became a sacrd grove for the Fante Nation, and later became a ‘Mecca’ for Fante people from all over the Gold Coast.

Once a year, all paths to this shrine are cleared to make them safe and comfortable for users, also giving the people an opportunity to come together, culminating in the annual Akwanbo festival.