By: Michael Teye Amartey
This year’s National Congress of the Guans has been launched at Anum in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.
The Congress is a major socio-cultural event and organization that unites the Guan-speaking people of Ghana. It celebrates the rich culture, history, and unity of Guan communities spanning across the country.
This years’Congress will be on the theme: “Harmonizing Resources in Guans communities for inclusive and sustainable development”.
The Guan ethnic group are widely regarded as the aboriginal inhabitants of modern-day Ghana. Arriving in the region around A.D. 1000 from the Mossi region of Burkina Faso, they were the first to settle across the Volta Basin, Afram Plains, and coastal areas before other major ethnic groups arrived.
Archaeological and historical evidence suggests the Guans trace their deeper roots to the ancient Sahel and savannah regions. Driven southwards by conflicts with the Mande of the Mali Empire, they migrated into present-day Ghana.
In 1981, the Guans group birth a congress to mobilize resources to develop their communities.
The Guans now have 28 communities across the country. They include, Anum, Boso, Okere, Awukugua, Gonja, Lolobi, Likpe, Yeji, Santrokofi, Larteh, Kwame Danso, amongst others. The history of the guans cannot be told without eulogizing their heroes, Theodosia Okoh who designed the National flag and President, John Dramani Mahama who is currently ruling the country.
The three-day congress is scheduled to take place from August 14 to 16, 2026 at the Anum palace under the auspices of the Paramount Chief of Anum Traditional Area, Akusiaku Brempong Kumi Sasraku with President, John Dramani Mahama expected to grace the occasion.
Speaking at the Launch, the National President of the Guans Congress and Ankobeahene of Larteh Ahenease, Enyineh Gyadu Nkansah said the event will bring Guan communities together to harness their collective resources for development.
He noted that although the Guan people are regarded as some of the earliest settlers in present day Ghana, many of their communities remained understated in national discourse.
The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the Congress and Akyempemhene of Anum Traditional Area, Dr. Obeng Dompreh described the forum as an important platform for fostering unity among the Guans communities.
The Paramount Chief of Anum Traditional Area, Akusiaku Brempong Kumi Sasraku therefore called on all guans both home and abroad to come on board to make the congress a success.
