Intergenerational Transmission of Traditional Healing Knowledge in Ghana: Challenges and Innovations among the Nzema, Fante, Wassa, and Ahanta Ethnic Groups in the Western Region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64261/pajhps.v1n1.002Keywords:
Traditional healing, intergenerational transmission, indigenous knowledge, cultural preservationAbstract
This study investigates the intergenerational transmission of traditional healing knowledge among the Nzema, Fante, Wassa, and Ahanta ethnic groups in Ghana’s Western Region. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach—comprising in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, and participant observation—the research explores how cultural knowledge is passed from elders to younger generations, the socio-cultural barriers hindering this process, and community-led innovations aimed at preserving indigenous healing traditions. The findings reveal a complex interplay between respect for ancestral wisdom and the pressures of modernization, education, and biomedical dominance. While traditional healers remain vital to community health and identity, declining youth interest, secrecy among elders, and structural marginalization pose significant threats to continuity. Nevertheless, participants emphasized actionable strategies for revitalization, including digital archiving, educational integration, and government recognition of traditional practices. The study underscores the need for policy frameworks that safeguard cultural knowledge while fostering its relevance in contemporary health systems.
Keywords: Traditional healing, intergenerational transmission, indigenous knowledge, Ghana, cultural preservation
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Pan-African Journal of Health and Psychological Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
All articles published in the Pan-African Journal of Health and Psychological Sciences (PAJHPS) are open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Under this license:
-
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication.
-
The work may be shared, copied, redistributed, and adapted for any purpose, even commercially.
-
Appropriate credit must be given to the original author(s) and the journal, along with a link to the license.
-
Users must indicate if changes were made.
-
There are no restrictions on reuse, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation:
Authors and users must cite the original work in the following manner:
Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Pan-African Journal of Health and Psychological Sciences, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/pajhps.vXnY.xxx
Copyright Statement:
Authors grant PAJHPS a non-exclusive license to publish the work and identify itself as the original publisher. Authors may enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version (e.g., post it to a repository or publish it in a book), with acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
