Sacred Groves of Ghana

Ancestral spirits/deities

Abiriw Sacred Grove

Akwapim North District, Eastern Region, Ghana

Ancestral grove, shrine; medicinal herbs; bird refuge

Open listing → Aduana/Asante ancestral origin site

Asantemanso Sacred Forest

Near Esumeja, Bekwai area, Ashanti Region (Pra-Offin basin)

Sacred ancestral 'cradle' of the Asante; origin myth (leopard, frog, dog); Opemso festival rites

Open listing → Daworo (local deity)

Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary Sacred Grove

Boaben & Fiema, Nkoranza North District, Bono East Region

Sacred-monkey protection (no killing); monkeys buried with funeral rites; ecotourism

Open listing → 'Tumi' spiritual force

Bofie & Dotobaa Sacred Groves ('Tumi')

Forest-savanna transition, Brong Ahafo region (Wenchi & Nkoranza districts), Ghana

Spiritual forest; authority of traditional leaders/gerontocracy

Open listing → Ancestral/earth deities

Brutu Forest Reserve Sacred Groves

Nandom Municipality, Upper West Region, Ghana

Taboos & traditional fire belts; sacred groves support reserve co-management

Open listing → Local deities/spirits

Buoyem (Mprisi) Sacred Grove & Bat Caves

Buoyem, Techiman municipality, Bono East Region

Sacred grove & cave shrines; spiritual significance; habitat tours

Open listing → Local deity/ancestral spirits

Diare Sacred Grove

Diare, Savelugu-Nanton district, Northern Region

Sacred grove & ecotourism potential; ritual protection

Open listing → Jaagbo twin gods (manifest as leopard, crocodile or python)

Jaagbo Sacred Grove

Tolon-Kumbungu district, Northern Region (~30 km from Tamale)

Consulted for childbearing, healing & rain; taboo on killing leopard/crocodile/python

Open listing → Akan traditional religion

Jachie Sacred Grove (JSG)

Ashanti region, Ghana

Sacred grove conservation; biodiversity hotspot

Open listing → Mystical/ancestral spirits

Kwaékese & Twendurase Mystical Sacred Groves

Kwahu Traditional Area, Eastern Region (western shore of Lake Volta)

Community-conserved groves blending spiritual & utilitarian use; safeguard perennial water sources

Open listing → Lake deity 'Twi'

Lake Bosomtwe Sacred Lake & Range Forest

Bosomtwe crater, Ashanti Region (~30 km SE of Kumasi)

Sacred lake; taboo on iron/metal boats (use wooden 'padua' planks); ritual offerings

Open listing → Kpalevorgu god (oracle = boulder under baobab)

Malshegu Sacred Grove

Katalga, ~12 km from Tamale, Northern Region

Shrine to Kpalevorgu (rain, harvest, fertility); strict protection

Open listing → Ancestral/community deities

Mintimrim Kwaye & Antobia Sacred Groves

Ghana (among five surveyed groves; forest & savanna zones)

Ritual & community-meeting sites; spiritually protected

Open listing → Ancestral founders Oburumankoma, Odapagyan & Oson

Nananom Mpow (Ancestral Grove of the Fante)

Near Obidan, SE of Mankessim, Central Region

Burial of founding ancestors; oracle & political-spiritual centre; festival rites

Open listing → Local deities/spirits

Pinkwae Sacred Grove

Greater Accra Region (Kpone/Prampram coastal plains)

Taboo/restriction-enforced protection; relict forest amid degraded farmland

Open listing → Earth/land deities via tendaana (land priest)

Sissala / Gbele Tendaana Sacred Groves (regional)

Sissala area & Gbele Resource Reserve fringes, Upper West Region (nr Tumu)

Earth-shrine groves; tendaana endorsed as most effective forest custodians

Open listing → Mona monkeys revered as messengers of the gods

Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary Sacred Grove

Tafi Atome, Hohoe area, Volta Region (43 km S of Hohoe; ~230 km NE of Accra)

Sacred-monkey protection; rituals; community ecotourism funding school/clinic/electricity

Open listing → Taakora/Tano (Akan god of war & protection) at the Tano River source

Tanoboase Sacred Grove & Shrine

Tanoboase, near Techiman, Bono East Region

Tano-river-god shrine; Apoo festival (spiritual cleansing, Apr/May); historic war hideout; rock shrine (entrance, durbar ground, hideout, watchtower)

Open listing → Earth & ancestor shrines — Tona'ab, Bona'ab, Nyoo (Ba'ar Tonna'ab Ya'nee most famous)

Tongo-Tengzug Sacred Shrines (Tong Hills)

Tongo Hills, Tengzug, Talensi District, Upper East Region

Animal-sacrifice shrines; pilgrimage from Asante & south; historic slave hideout; Golob (Mar) & Bo'araam (Oct-Nov) festivals

Open listing → Hippos & river revered/taboo-protected

Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary (sacred Black Volta)

Black Volta River, SW of Wa, Wa West district, Upper West Region

Protection of sacred hippos; river safari ecotourism funding schools/clinics

Open listing →