When I was a young boy, I was fascinated by the talents and craftsmanship skills of the migrants form Volta Region who had settled at “Awanaga” in Oforikrom-Kumasi. Indeed, my late cousin, Nana Asamoah Boagyaa 11, Chief of Nkawiepanin had a big house at “Awanaga” which he rented out to migrant workers. Some days, I watch in awe and fascination as these master craftsmen transform pieces of wood into fine art or logs into king-size beds.

Never in my wildest dream did I imagine that one day I will actually fall in love with the birth-place of Kofi Ato my father’s long-time house help and “member of our family” or these wonderful craftsmen. Moreover, as a child when I was naughty, (daily) Kofi Ato will threaten to send me away to Sogakope - it is a shame he never went ahead with his threat.

Readers may ask why did you fall in love with the Region? Like majority of your readers, I was minding my own business in a pretty leafy suburb of Cheshire, UK, writing economic development plans and implementing regeneration policies for areas like Liverpool, Middlesbrough, and Knowsley. Thankfully, the Volta Region House of Chiefs asked me to write an Economic Plan for the Region and that began my journey of love.

Maybe a bit of history and background will help the reader to understand the place and people and why I have come to love it.

Who are the Ewes?

According to oral history, the Anlo-Ewe people settled at their present home around the first half of the 15th century. This was after a dramatic escape from Notsie, an ancestral federated region currently within the borders of the modern state of Togo. Earlier settlements were established along the seamless stretches of white sandy beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, from what is now the international border between Togo and Ghana. However, the close proximity of the settlements to the sea offered little safety to the settlers who were prey to European slave traders. The Keta lagoon became central to the early evolution of the Anlo-Ewe traditional state. Its shallow waters were not navigable by the large slave ships and provided a much-needed buffer zone between the settlers and the aggressive slave traders.

Most Ewe speaking people trace their origins from Abyssinia (in what is now Ethiopia). They migrated with other Ewes from Abyssinia to Oyo in Yoruba Land, Western Nigeria. They later moved on to Ketu in Dahomey (now Benin). From Ketu they migrated and settled down at Notsie (Togo) in the 12th century and finally moved on to settle down in Ghana.

Present Day Volta Region

The Volta Region is the most easterly region of Ghana, bordering on Togo, and in my view an area of extraordinary scenic beauty. The rolling hills and valleys, rocky outcrops overlooking Lake Volta, and lagoons, rivers and waterfall makes the Region one of nature’s most attractive gift to Ghana. The region stretches from the coastal plains on the Atlantic coast right up to the arid lands of the north. Its climatic conditions vary tremendously and stretches from the coastal plain, fringed by sun-dappled beaches and mangrove swamps, through moist deciduous rain forests in the central belt, where Mt. Afadjato at 885m is the highest point in Ghana, to the arid savannah of northern Ghana.

The Volta Lake

My favourite spot in the region is Lake Volta, on its western flank. The lake is a source of power, and much of the water for the region; it is the water highway to the north a great fishing lake as well as a popular recreational area. I invite readers to visit and breathe in the fresh, sea breeze of Lake Volta. The region is also famous for its festivals and ceremonies, of which the Hogbetsotso of the Anlo people in November and the Asogli State Yam festival in September are probably the most famous. Most of the festivals and ceremonies of the region reflect the rich diversity of history and culture of tribal life in the region. The relics of European coastal forts and other structures still remain, while further north vestiges of the German colonial era are unmistakable. The main gateway to Togo is at Aflao, and hotels, guest houses and restaurants can be found in all the main centres, including Ho, Keta, Kpando and Hohoe.

Beaches

The beaches of the Volta Estuary are amongst the best in Ghana. Swimming is popular in some areas, although the sea is generally rough along the Atlantic coast. The only warning signs to Ashanti’s is – “please learn to swim” before you set foot on the boat from Dambai-Kete- Krachi. New hotels are providing facilities for water ports and deep sea fishing. One can catch tuna, tarpon and barracuda if prior arrangements are made with local hotels. The Volta Region is rich with distinctive cultural history and the regional museum at Ho is an ideal place to understand the background to the region’s heritage. Hohoe is an important centre of herbal medicine, which is of significant and growing importance both in Ghana and the western world today. . Tourist Attractions in Volta Region

The region is blessed with many tourist attractions including the following:

? Lake Volta Estuary The estuary is an area of great scenic beauty with river and ocean beaches, and picnic spots shaded by palm tree. The sand bars are the nesting grounds for sea birds and endangered species of twitter are still found here.

? The Keta-Angaw Lagoon Basin Important wetland and breeding ground for migratory birds ? Tafi Monkey Village The sacred monkey sanctuaries around Tafi Atome, some 5kn away from the Avatime hills. ? The Waterfalls of the Volta Region Although some may be seasonal, all are set in attractive wooded or mountain settings. 1. Wli falls – 20km from Hohoe, in the Wli nature reserve 2. Tagbo falls – Liate Wote 3. Tsatsodu falls – 10km from Hohoe 4. Aflambo falls –Leklebi 5. Amedzofe – Abadzeme falls ? Kalakpe Game Production Reserve At Abutia, 15km from ho, the reserve has increasing species of migratory and indigenous birds life, buck, buffalo and monkeys ? Kyabobo National Park A newly designated National Park in the foothill of Mt. Djbobo, on the border with Togo.

? Grottos and Caves In the limestone hills, the grottos and caves are dramatic. Not to be missed are: 1. The ancestral caves of Likpe – 14km form Hohoe 2. The grottos of Kpando – Aghehoe and Aziavi 3. The caves of Nyagbo and Logba 4. Caves and iron mine workings – Alepafu

Almost all the tribes in Ghana are found in the region. Sixteen (16) major languages and forty-one (41) dialects are spoken. All the different ethnic groups live peacefully, demonstrating unity in diversity. However, a word of caution particularly to single young men – the ladies are very attractive, domesticated and well cultured - you may not return to your native homeland.

Ecology

The different ecological zones of the Region offer various tourist attractions ranging from golden sandy beaches, various water bodies, caves, waterfalls and industrial investment opportunities. The diverse ecology allows the cultivation of divers’ crops including tree crops, food crops, fruits and vegetables. The Region has a very large track of fertile land that can be used to grow a large variety of crops including maize, cassava, banana, pineapple, mango, cashew, sunflowers, pear, orange, coffee, cocoa, teak, cocoa-yam, plantain, etc.

Investment Potentials The potentials of the Region are very numerous but have remained largely un-tapped. The agricultural, tourism and industrial potentials of the Region are also huge. These open wide doors for huge investment and trade opportunities. For example, there are huge investments Potentials/Opportunities in the following industry.

? Salt mining ? Ceramics ? Fish farming ? Kente weaving ? Agro processing ? Large scale crop production ? Keta Basin(exploration of oil) ? Hotel/Tourism ? Rice production

Conclusion

I hope by now readers will have caught a bit of glimpse of the region and I may have wet their appetite. I would also take this opportunity to encourage indigenes from the area both in Ghana and abroad to keep the region in mind when making investment decisions. The region is blessed with natural and human resources, and I will encourage all of us to get on board and help awake this “sleeping- giant”.

“Akpee” and God Bless. Kufuor, Appiah-Danquah