The Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, has called on the Bonoman Institute to take a leading role in defending the identity, history, and cultural autonomy of the Bono people.
Speaking at the inauguration of the institute’s new Advisory Board in Sunyani, the Bishop said the Bono people needed stronger historical research and advocacy to address what he described as longstanding cultural, political, and historical challenges.
Most Rev. Gyamfi, who is also President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, urged the institute to intensify efforts to document Bono history, preserve Bono heritage, and challenge narratives that undermine the region’s identity.
“Your primary duty is to work to free the Bono people from oppression through historical research, advocacy, and cultural restoration,” he said.
He noted that historians have recognised the Bono people as founders of the first Akan empire in present-day Ghana during the 13th century, with other Akan groups later adopting aspects of Bono culture and governance systems.
The Bishop argued that despite the restoration of sovereignty after colonial rule, some Bono lands and identities still remain subject to claims by other traditional authorities due to past conquests.
“The British gave back our land and our sovereignty which therefore stands to reason that all forms of internal colonization of one state by another state should cease,” he stated.
He further challenged the institute to promote Bono literature and language in schools across the region, while also serving as a pressure group for Bono development and cultural recognition.
Most Rev. Gyamfi encouraged the new board to approach its work with integrity and purpose, stressing that understanding Bono history was essential for the people to fully appreciate their identity and future.
The 10-member Advisory Board is chaired by Professor Richardson Addai-Mununkum, an Associate Professor of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of Education, Winneba. The board is expected to provide strategic direction for the institute’s work in research, advocacy, and cultural development.
