The Eastern Region of Ghana is a rich blend of dramatic landscape scenery, historic relics and traditional cultures. The region is dominated by the Volta Lake, one of the world's largest man-made lakes which covers a 5th of the region, and the Akosombo Dam, the source of much of Ghana's hydroelectric power.
The Region is famous for its large areas of lush tropical forest, cascading waterfalls and some landscapes overlooked by the Kwahu and Krobo Mountains and the Akwapim Ridge. A favourite excursion is the weekend trip to Dodi Islands in the Volta River. The Eastern Region has Ghana's only commercial diamond mine at Akwatia, an old mining town started in the late 18th century.
Traditional and historic towns and villages are part of the richness of the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Koforidua
This is the capital of the region. It is an old town that is served by several good roads, which have changed it from the agricultural centre it used to be to a vibrant commercial centre. It attained a municipal status in 1965 generating its wealth largely from the cocoa industry. It can now boast of housing developments, a modern regional hospital, a nursing and midwifery training college, with several schools and a large student population.
It has several good quality hotels and guesthouses and restaurants. It can be reached very easily from Accra, about 80 km (50 miles) by bus, taxi or rented car and also from several other directions within the region.
Aburi
The town of Aburi is only 30 km (19 miles) from Accra in the Akwapim mountain range on the Accra-Koforidua road. This town has Ghana's famous century-old tropical botanical gardens, opened in 1890 and has very exotic flora and fauna species. Twice Mrs. Nixon (wife of former US President Richard Nixon) visited this place, because she said she found it very attractive and the people so hospitable. There is a guesthouse on the garden grounds with very good facilities including a restaurant.
Aburi also has one of the best secondary schools in the country. The school has produced some of the best women professionals in Ghana. Close to Aburi is the town of Akropong, which has a very renowned teacher-training college that has also produced some of the finest and great teachers found in the country.
Visitors should take the opportunity to visit the house of Tetteh Quarshie (he brought Ghana's treasured cocoa crop from Fernando Po Island off the coast southwest of West Africa in the mid-1800s) and the first cocoa farm he planted in nearby Mampong, which is a few minutes drive from Aburi. The farm has been preserved in its original form. All these towns have many interesting historic buildings and sites.
Akosombo
This is a mountain community at the dam on the Volta River and overlooks the lake (one of the largest man-made lakes in the world) which is a very magnificent view. It has hotel accommodation with swimming pool, classy restaurant and nightclub. From Akosombo, you can go on a cruise on the Yapei Queen (a ferry) to Yapei the port town near Tamale some 200 km (125 miles) in the north region.
There is also a day-return cruise on the Dodi Princess to the Dodi Island situated in the Volta River and which has become a famous picnic venue.
Larteh
This town located on the Akwapim ridge is about 25 minutes drive northeast from Aburi, is mostly known for its traditional shrine, the Akonedi Shrine. The shrine is believed to have mystic powers for healing all types of ailments and has become the place for those who want the visit and consult the shrine. It is easily reached by bus/car from Accra and can be made a return journey.
The shrine has its own festival days, one of which occurs between the Christmas and New Year. There are three gods that constitute the Akonedi deity - Nana Dade Kofi who is said to possess powers for curing all manner of ailments, Nana Esi Ketewa who is the chief linguist of the principal god, and Brafo Asuo Gyebi.
The god Asuo Gyebi is the executioner of the shrine and is also said to possess healing powers too. It is said to be symbolized by a huge and extraordinarily long python, which lives in a cave a mile away from Larteh. Every three years, the chief priestess performs rites as the Akonedi shrine demands and this god comes out of the cave with such 'tempestuous gale' that uproots virtually all plants within it perimeter. This ceremony is made public and people travel from outside Larteh to witness it.
