Culture the means through which a particular group of people can be identified is seen as the way they think, talk, dress and other whole of activities that relatively entrenched with them from generation to generation. In Ghana there are several cultures which significantly distinguish the people into tribes.Notably one amongst them are Akans, Ewes, Gas etc. The people of Sekyere West in the Northern part of Ashanti are Akans whose culture is well recognized and respected among Ghanaians.

Sekeyre West District is dominated by the Akans who constitute 92.6% followed by tribes from the north of 6.8% Ewes 0.4% and others 0.2%. as shown in the table below. The people in the District have eight clans, namely Aduana , Bretuo, Ekuona, Oyokuo , Asona, Asekyire, Agona and Asene.

Traditional Set-Up

There are four (4) Paramountcies, namely, Mampong, Nsuta, Kwamang, and Beposo and ten (10) divisional or sub paramountcies, traditionally called “Abrempon.” The Amaniampong Silver Stool of Mampong is traditionally next in terms of relationship to the Golden Stool the Symbolic unifying force of the Asanteman (Ashanti Kingdom).  The Asantehene is traditionally the Uncle of Mamponghene. There is a strong clan relationship between Mampong and other surrounding communities like Apaa, Kyekyewere, Nintin, Nsuase, and Benim, all belonging to the Bretuo Clan. The Nsuta, Beposo, and Kwamang Stools belong to the Oyoko, Agona, and Aduana Clans respectively.

Ethnic Diversity

One important characteristic about the Municipality and its ethnic diversity. Almost every ethnic group in the Country can be found in the Municipality Of more significance is the interrelationship among the various ethnic and clan groupings. Each one is proud to be identified as “Mamponni”, “Nsutani”, “Kwamangni” and “Beposoni”, except in times of a peculiar situation that calls for a real identification.

Festivals

The people in the Municipality take special pride in the celebration of festive days like the Kwasidae, Wukudae, and Fofie. Akwasidae is the most adored festive celebration of the various paramount Seats.

The Mampong Traditional Area is famous for the celebration of the Kontonkyi Adaekesie, which traces the migration of the Mampong people to their present location. The main Festival celebrated in the Municipality is Kontonkyi,is being celebrated in February at mampong the District capital. During the period, all the sub-chiefs in the District pay homage to paramount chief of Mampong Dasebre Osei Bonsu II who is sitting on the Silver throne.

During the period, all the citizens outside the Municipality come home to contribute to the success of the celebration. Beside, the chiefs also celebrate occasions like Akwasi dae,Wuku dae etc . During the Akwasi dae festival, all the chiefs and elders gather at the paramount chief’s palace for a durbar and offer a traditional prayers to the gods and their stool. Singing, drumming, acrobatic displays are the major source of entertainment for the people gathered at the festival. There are no known/identified negative cultural practices that hamper social cohesion in the Municipality.

Ethnic/Chieftaincy Conflicts

The Municipality is not prone to ethnic conflict. There is high level of social cohesion in the midst of ethnic diversity. There are however, isolated cases of chieftaincy conflicts which usually emanate from traditional legitimacy to the occupancy of the stools. This tends to develop intra-clan blocs resulting in animosity and division among the people which have the tendency to impact negatively on socio-economic development. This negative effect manifests itself in people’s response to social gatherings and communal labour. 

Religious Composition

In terms of religion, Christians constitute 87.6% of the population with Moslems constituting 10.9%. The Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the chiefs are putting measures in place to celebrate the Kontonkyi festival in a grand style in future to attract foreigners to experience different culture. The usual wear for the chiefs and elders is kente clothes and other traditionally made attires. Their popular diets are fofuo, Ampesie, Rice and banku. Wednesday is the main market day for the people in the Municipality at mampong the District capital. Farmers bring many kinds of foodstuff to sell for their daily bread.

People in the Municipality and its environs come to exhibit their products and also purchase from others. Even people from far away such as Kumasi, Atebubu, Yeji, Ejura also come to patronise the market. Since the Municipality is a farming community, majority of the peoplec elebrate funeral rites on Saturdays, while on Sundays they go to church. Meanwhile, other religious bodies such as Advents also celebrate their Funeral rites on Thursdays. A town like Ninteen and its environs don’t go to farm on Fridays. It is their believe that, the gods in the area appear on such days. Therefore they fear of meeting them on that day when they go to farm.

Tourism and Festivals/Tourism Potentials

Aesthetic features and land management.
The Municipality is endowed with many aesthetic features which have  a high potential in the area of tourism promotion. However, tourism services are not well developed in the Municipality. The forest Reserves contain beautiful fauna including antelopes, snakes and monkeys, a wide variety of birds and butterflies and beautiful flora including medicinal trees. There are spectacular caves at Atonsu-Kwamang and Apiakrom which when developed will attract both Foreign and Local Tourists.

The Atwea Mountains is another important area, which need special attention. It currently represents the most famous on which most Christians from all parts of the country lodge for prayers.  In order to develop the Tourism potential of the Municipality, there is the need to improve upon physical accessibility, especially the road to the Atwea Mountains and other tourist sites. 

There are hotels/guest homes and rest houses at Mampong and Nsuta. The Assembly should initiate programmes to market and promote Tourism in the Municipality.

Other Tourism sites, which need development, are the following:
1.    The valleys at Ninting
2.    Mampong Scarp
3.    Natural spring water at Mampong
4.    Caves at Owuobuoho
5.    Kogyai forest reserve
6.    Waterfall on the Sumanpa Stream near Mampong
7.   Hanging Cliff/out crop on the Mampong scarp near Kyekyewere.

The Assembly should take advantage of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) as a beneficiary and develop these tourism potentials. The Municipal Assembly is working hard to improve upon its current status to attract foreigners in order to generate income for the Assembly.