The High Impacts of Asante Indigenous Knowledge in Biodiversity Conservation Issues in Ghana: The Case of the Abono and Essumeja Townships in Ashanti Region (Published)
The time-tested, resilient and proactive indigenous knowledge of the Asantes were and are still indispensable in the conservation of the biodiversity resources in the Ghanaian community. The researcher critically analysed the high impacts of Asante indigenous knowledge systems in the areas of taboos, cosmological beliefs and totems in conservation issues in the Abono and Essumeja townships. Using the qualitative research approach with descriptive study, document analysis and case study research methods, the study revealed the enormous impacts of the of indigenous knowledge systems in constantly monitoring the attitudes of residents toward the wanton destruction of the biodiversity resources in the environment. Key informants like Asante chiefs, elders, old indigenes, caretakers of some reserves in the area as well as some youths were purposively and stratified random sampled and interviewed to solicit for their views on the impacts of these Asante knowledge systems in conserving the high taxas of flora and fauna species in the traditional area. Direct observations of the impacts were carried out by the researcher and his research assistants while analyzing historical documents of the Abono and Essumeja Townships. The study concluded that these indigenous knowledge systems must not be brushed off as superstitious nonsense. Rather, they must be critically weighed with the assistance of culturists to select the valid and modern-applicable aspects of the indigenous knowledge systems and synergize them with the academic scientific knowledge systems in formulating biodiversity conservation policies and strategies in Ghana.
Keywords: Asantes, Biodiversity, Conservation policies, Cosmological beliefs, Impacts, Indigenous knowledge, Taboos, Totems