THE AKOSOMBO DAM.( THE LARGEST MAN -MADE LAKE)

                                                   THE AKOSOMBO DAM

        The first thing to do upon arriving at the Akosombo Township is to look for the Dam site, the educational center where schools, companies and institutions visit to learn the history of the Dam and have fun, Akosombo is located in Akwamuland of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Legend has it that the name “Akosombo” was derived from an Akan word “Nkonson-konson-bo” meaning a chain of rocks. And it is not surprising that visitors to Akosombo will find the township surrounded by mountains that virtually form a chain around the township. . The town is located north east of the capital, Accra. The river on which the dam is built can be described as a conglomerate of three rivers; the Black, White and Red Voltas.

                                                

Akosombo bridge

For many centuries the Akwamus primary used the river for transport and fishing until that changed in 1915. Upon the discovery of bauxite in the Gold Coast in 1915 by Sir Kitson, an Australian geologist, it was realized that to start any meaningful bauxite industry in Ghana, there was the need to look for an abundant and cheap source of power. Upon careful research of the country, it was concluded that the gorge south of Adena would be the ideal location for the siting of a hydro-electric dam since the drop in the gorge provided the perfect gradient.

                                            

                                              

The project did not start immediately until after independence in 1957 (although plans for its development were drawn in 1940) when Ghana’s first president Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in his quest to push forward his agenda of industrialization of Ghana pushed for the construction of the dam. He implemented the Volta River project which not only included the dam but the establishment of an aluminum smelter at Tema to make use of the excess power. The contract was awarded to an Italian company Impregilo and work started in 1961 and was completed in 1965.

                                                 

                                                         

The dam is 114 feet high embankment dam built on solid igneous rock basement. It is 2170 feet long and 1210 feet wide. The maximum height from its foundation is 374.00 feet and the height at axis from bedrock is about 364.17 feet. The maximum operating water level is 278 feet and minimum level is 240 feet. The lake formed beyond the dam is about 400 kilometers long and it is the largest man-made lake.

                                         

 Thanks to Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the man who fought for independence for Ghana and has left behind much in our memories, He will forever be reminded for his good work done.

                                                 

SHAI HILLS FOREST RESERVE

                          SHAI HILLS

  The shai hill is situated in Doryumu in the Dangme West district with Dodowa as the district capital and north of Accra. It is made up of largely of savanna covered plains. The reserve is about 17kilometres from Accra. It covers an area size of 52 square kilometers and is made up of 5 hills with the highest at 290metres. 

       The reserve consists of striking and attractive range of rocky hills set in the middle of expansive and open grassland plain. The reserve is fenced to prevent animals from staying out. There are beautiful scenic views across the Accra plain from the top. There are close to 31 mammals, 13 reptiles and 175 bird species. The baboon troop at the entrance can be amazing, but be cautious because they love to snatch your attended personal belongings.

                 

The best time for wildlife viewing is early in the morning. Besides the aforementioned baboons and birds, a morning visit may include sightings of Kob antelope, bushbuck or monkeys; although the monkeys here are not habituated like at Tafi Atome or Boabeng-Fiema.You can travel the park in a 4X4 vehicle or on foot with an armed escort from the hours of 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Nearby accommodations are available that are comfortable and convenient for an early morning arrival to the reserve. 

                                      

                        IN addition to the natural beauty and game viewing potential of the reserve, one could also enjoy the pleasure of visiting Obonu tem and Se yo caves on the Hioweyo and Sayu hills.

The Shai people's ancestral caves, these were used by the Shai king until the end of the 19th century. The primary cave was defendable in times of war due to the abundance of great stone rocks, a tunnel-like openings, and overhangs. A memorable day can be spent walking through the cool dry evergreen forest to the caves to see relics of old Shai settlements in the reserve. The loud bat colony that resides at the cave is an amazing site as well.

                                                 

         Visit Ghana for the wonderful and exiting tourist attraction sites to view the natural sites that beautifies the nation and serves as an educational center for Ghanians and other tourists.

NZULEZU (A TOURIST ON A CANOE)

                   This is one of the most unique tourist sites in Ghana; among its peers of castles, and Eco-villages. Part of this is the unique landscape, and part of it is just experiencing the difficulties that present themselves to these people who have chosen to live very differently than other people in Ghana. With all the difficulties these people still have, they have carved a life for themselves out of this beautiful natural area and are working to preserve it with the help of visitors and recognition.

 


                      






                  This is the story; a long time ago the people of the village lived in Mali and were part of the ancient Empire of Ghana. They had an enemy that continued to harass them and demand their food and resources; they were no longer able to fight so they met with their oracle to try to find a solution. The oracle instructed them to follow the giant snail to a safe place to live. About 40 households made the journey and they first settled in an area of central Ghana which is now the Brong Ahafo region. But this did not last long because they continued to be persuaded by their enemies and so they moved on once again. They followed the snail to where a large river enters the ocean, near modern day Shama on the coast of Ghana. They believed they would be safe here. But once again that did not last long before their foes caught up to them again. This time, the snail took them to a place they would be safe forever, and this is when they took to some rafts and set out onto the Surinam wet lands where they built Nzulezu which means’’ surface of the water’’ in Nzema. 

              The town of Nzulezu is a Stilt Village located near a town called Beyin, in the Jomoro district of the western region of Ghana. . It is a small village, started over 500 years ago, governed by a village chief and a handful of village elders. It is supported entirely by stilts made of central wood with a raffia walkway. An amazing village where life goes on well. Before you get to, and from Nzulezu, you must travel via canoe from a small dock in the village of Beyin.

                 Although the town is very small, with only one “main street,” there are two churches (Pentecostal and Catholic) that stand side by side. There is one school, grades K-6 and if the children plan to go further in their education they must enroll at the public school in Beyin and commute via canoe every day. The “school yard” consists of four logs, two per side on the “field”, making up football goals as they stick out of the shallow areas of the . Their main source of income is agriculture even though they live on water. They own some land 1 km north of the lake where they grow a variety of vegetables and fruit which they sell in Beyin and the surrounding areas. There is also little exposure to the outside world with no television and poor radio reception.

                     Unlike some of the sites in Ghana, visitors going to Nzulezu have a strong chance of actually helping the people there preserve their unique way of life with the small amounts of money they are providing for guiding, some crafts and the school. Tourism could definitely be an alternative to young people leaving to look for better jobs in the city to never return.