The river Volta is a very important element in the life of
Ghanaians. Without it, one may wonder what would have happened in the energy
sector of Ghana. Unlike Nigeria, Ghana is able to provide electricity to its
major Cities, towns and some villages all by the help of the River Volta
although there are some minor sources of energy to support. What makes Akosombo (where the river is
located) unique for tourists is the fact that the
world's largest man-made lake which I am describing passes through the town
from Burkina Faso, which covers about 8,502 square kilometers
(3,283 sq mi), which is 3.6% of Ghana's land area.
The official name of the lake is Lake Volta which
was named after Burkina Faso when the country was known as the Upper Volta in
colonial days until it gained independence from the French in 1960 and changed
from the Upper Volta to Burkina Faso. The reason being that the source of the
lake is from Burkina Faso and it was named after the country in colonial days.
This dam provides Hydro-electricity to Ghana and
some neighboring countries making it a very strategic point in the country. The basin is
characterized by poor soil, generally of Voltaian sandstone. Annual rainfall
averages is between 1,000 and 1,140 millimeters. The most widespread vegetation
type is savanna, the woodlands of which, depending on local soil and climatic
conditions, may contain such trees as Red Ironwood and Shea.
The basin's population, principally farmers, is low in density,
especially in the central and northwestern with the plains surrounding it
making it a beautiful and exciting scene to watch from any angle.
In contrast with the rest of the region are the Afram Plains,
located in the southeastern corner of the basin. Here the terrain is low;
averaging 60 to 150 meters in elevation, and annual rainfall is between 1,140
and about 1,400 millimeters. Near the Afram River, much of the surrounding
countryside is flooded or swampy during the rainy seasons.
Navigation on the Volta River is most convenient
since 1964 when the then Ghanaian president (First president) Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
ordered the construction of the dam at Akosombo, for the generation of hydro
electric power and serves as a potential source for irrigation in the town and
its surrounding villages which is reflected in agricultural mechanization
agreement signed in the late 1980s to irrigate the Afram Plains. The lake is
navigable from Akosombo through Yeji in the middle of the country; a
twenty-four-meter ferry was commissioned in 1989 to link the Afram Plains to
the west of the lake with the lower Volta region to the east and to the north
of Ghana.
Major hotels in the town include the Volta Hotel, the Akosombo
Continental Hotel and other guest house designed to meet international
standards for visitor and tourists.
Do not be worried about your safety since the place is violence
free and highly security service available from the Ghana Navy Forces to protect
the dam from unscrupulous people and the people living around.
This is a must see scene for you to make your judgement on this
spectacular environment in Ghana!
No comments:
Post a Comment