ON SUPPRESSION AND COUNTER-ACCUSATIONS: THE VENERATION OF TRADITIONAL GHANAIAN MONUMENTS FROM THE CREATIVE ARTIST'S VIEW

Abstract

Every nation, society or community has individuals who played pivotal role in their history, and in that regard, their efforts or contributions are considered worthy of emulation. In the Ghanaian setting, to make the legacies and achievements of these national or traditional heroes or heroines indelible until perpetuity, they are sometimes immortalised by naming facilities, amenities and structures after them. In other cases, they are honoured by the designing or construction of monumental statues in their likeness. Citizens, indigenes and inhabitants of various geographical locations who are conversant with the historical or cultural symbolism of these traditional monuments revere them passionately. This act on the other hand has over the years sparked controversy between sympathisers of these statues or traditional monuments and others who deem these artistic elements as the woes behind Ghana’s retarded socio economic growth. This study through a library search from secondary data as well as primary sources through observation from fieldwork, aims to analyse the allegation and diverse opinions on the role or effect the veneration of these traditional Ghanaian statues have on Ghana’s economic growth.