Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhen of Essikado traditional area has called on Ghanaians to cherish and appreciate their cultural values and traditions so as to enhance the development of the country.

He said the beauty of any people was their cultural values and that no nation could develop without knowing its history, cultural values and traditions.

Nana Nketsia said this when he launched two books in Cape Coast, Entitled “A History of the Nzema in Pre-Colonial Ghana” and the “European Presence in Nzemaland, 1550-1957”.

The books authored by Ms Martha Alibah a lecturer at the Department of History of the University of Cape Coast, present the geographical description of Nzema land, origin and migration of the Nzema to their present place of abode as well as their customs, beliefs and practices.

They also talked about the Nzema-European trade, European interference in Nzema local politics, the Nzema and the Europeans in social contact and the positive and Negative (economic, social Political) impact of that contact on the Nzema.

Nana Nketsia described the book as thought provoking and insightful, and recommended it as a must read for all students, teachers and the general public.

The launch was attended by high profile personalities including the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UCC, Professor Nelson Buah, President of the Western Traditional Council Awulae Annor Adjaye III, a 15- member delegation from the Nzema West Traditional Council, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Gas, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey and Professor Osei Kwarteng Head of the Department of History, UCC.

The first 10 copies of the books were auctioned for GH¢ 10,000.00 with the first copy sold for GH¢ 1, 000.00.

Reviewing the 113 page books , Mr Frimpong Nnuroh, Lectuer at the Department of Africa and International Studies of UCC , said the books called for a new perception of the people of Nzema who hitherto were known for their witchcraft and Juju, dark skin colour, people associated with the Coconut fruit and the mud fish.

He said the book centered on the origin, cultural beliefs and practices, appellations, taboos, funerals, witchcraft, moral values of Nzema people as well as the political history of Nzema people.

The Author of the book, according to Mr Nnuroh called on all to appreciate the fact that the presence of the Europeans did not stop the people of Nzema from expressing their cultural values and practices, but that it however broke up the once united Nzema into Eastern and Western Nzema.

He described the book as well researched and well written, with enough information on Nzemaland.

Ms Alibah said she was inspired to write the book because during the gathering of material for her Master of Philosophy thesis, she realized the fragmentation of history of the people of Nzema, following which she set out to keep the records straight.

She said the book would be good for historians, students and the chiefs and people of Nzema and hinted that she would soon come out with a book on the women of Nzema

Awulae Adjaye III who presided, commended the author and said the book had made the people of Nzema proud since much of the history of the people of Nzema was well chronicled in the book.

He said Ms Alibah would be made an ambassador of Nzema as well as a role model for the people of Nzema, especially the youth and women.

He called on all to endeavour to send feedback to the author after reading the books, noting that it would help her improve upon her subsequent books she intended to write.