Forikrom (B/A), Nov. 10 GNA - The Abono Organic Farmers Association Project (ABOFAP) at Forikrom near Techiman and the Environmental Development Youth Movement (EDYM) of Have (rpt) Have in the Volta Region have organized an exchange programme of studying, sharing and accessing their relics and cultural activities.

The exchange programme, would afford the two non-governmental organizations the opportunity of improving the cultural values for the development of their areas.

The association, in conjunction with Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development, (CIKPD) organized and sponsored the programme.

Speaking at one of the exchange programmes at a durbar held at Forikrom, Nana Kusi Ameyaw, Beease Abusuapanin, said the people from Forikrom immigrated from Amowi and settled at Nyafuna now Dormaae near Odwernti.

Nana Ameyaw said during the Ashanti and Bono conflicts, the citizens scattered and settled at Kalndy in the northern Region, Jaman in the Brong-Ahafo as well as Offuman.

He said after years in exile, the Forikrom citizens started finding their way back.

Nana Ameyaw indicated that traditional authorities had identified the place where the people were deceived to bury their guns in the Owenti water and has declared it as a place of tourism.

He said a carnival known as, "Baakor" exist in the area together with other relics including Bonte Bat Cave from where rains could be conjured to fall when the people were in dire need of rains for farming activities by slaughtering a ram to purify the gods in the cave. Nana Kwadwo Adams, Twafohene of Forikrom and Director of ABROFAP said it was the desire and determination of the association to develop these areas as tourist centres with support of NGOs in a bid to provide employment for the citizens.

He therefore, called on the citizens of the area to help protect the bats as well as the cultural relics to enable them achieve the maximum support of the association in developing those areas. Mr. Fiator Atigrima Paolo Kissiedu, EDYM staff in charge of Have community lauded the people of Forikrom for maintaining and being ambitious to develop those areas as tourist attractions. There were demonstrations on puberty rites, story telling and fishing by elders of the town who were aged over 80 years.