On the 31st of August, 2020, amidst the Corona breeze, I went on a trip to the Bono Region of Ghana to pay a visit to my good friend, Juliet. My mind was bursting with joy as my eyes beheld the breathtaking sights of beautiful elements of nature. Since it was my first time travelling to that part of the country, many questions and expectations raced up and down my brain. Would I be able to enjoy the weather? Will there be potable drinking water? Are the people hospitable? What of network accessibility_ would I have to climb a tree to get good internet connectivity (lol)?. The traffic turned the 2-hour trip from Kumasi to Sunyani into a 5-hour one. I was exhausted but eventually got to see my friend. Permit me to share with you my experience staying in Kwatiri for the first time.
Where is Kwatiri located?
Kwatiri sometimes spelt Kwatire is a town in the Bono Region of Ghana. It is located close to Odumase, which are both about 30-min drive to Sunyani, the capital. Locals are reserved and would not immediately cloud a visitor with excessive attention until they are sure of who you are. Nonetheless, they are hospitable.
1. Weather and surroundings
Around this time of the year, it is typically 22℃. In the evening however, you are likely to feel like it’s 21℃. Kwatiri is quiet dry and dusty. At the moment there are on-going road construction projects which make the place more dustier. However, it can get extremely muddy after rainfall. Per my observation, it is a serene environment with lots of greens. Also, I noticed quite a number of farms, hen coops and goat pens. When it comes to human habitation, we have quite a number of homes built with red clay whilst others modernly built.
2. Basic Amenities
Kwatiri has a local polyclinic. It is located not far from the town hall where most public activities, I hear, are expected to take place; funerals, general meetings etc. We use shared toilets and bathrooms which are typically house-hold owned. Also, not all of us have access to free flowing water in our homes and so we pay for potable water from neighbors with the luxury of owning a water system. If you need to get foodstuffs from the market, you may have to go to Sunyani just like I did. The only market I was able to locate within the vicinity was a second-hand clothes and shoes market. The Sunyani market beside the Coronation park is neat and properly arranged; stalls aligned such that you can freely walk through the lanes without being pushed or pulled by our “wheelbarrow folks” we usually find in Makola market. The prices of the foodstuffs were cheap, except for onions which were quite expensive because they were out of season.
3. Transportation
The main means of transportation is what we usually call the “Praghya”, the three-wheel vehicle. We use it to transport both passengers and their goods. In the absence of a “Praghya” you can find an “okada” or an “aboboyaa” to help you reach your destination. It is safe and the good news is that you only need a few cedis to pay for transportation.
4. Security
Security in Kwatire is something to talk about even in your sleep. I was surprised when on a number of occasions I found owners/caretakers stepping out without closing their shops. My friend’s next door neighbor, could even step out to work or go to bed without locking her door with thousands of padlocks and iron bars. Please do not try this if you live in the bigger cities, especially if you are weekend party type like our folks in Kumasi. Typical Weekend Celebration in Kumasi. Yes, that is the extent to which people feel safe in this community. We do not steal properties or hurt people here. In fact, little children are free to roam the streets all day without fear. There is a police post few meters from the town hall, it makes it easier for security look out.
Special feature
Our special feature in this community is a food processing company, Kofi Vinyo Company Limited, https://web.facebook.com/kovigh. It aims to alleviate poverty by putting together local women to produce healthy food supplements mainly from tiger nuts and ginger. I had the opportunity to try one of their products; the Kovi tiger nut powder. If you are looking for something healthy to cleanse out your system, to help ease constipation, menstrual pains and irregularities you can grab a box for yourself. It is friendly for my lactose intolerant friends.
Thank you for reading. It took me days to finish this up but I hope you find it useful. Leave your comments and suggestions. I look forward to stepping out to other peaceful places like Kwatiri. I just hope I do not have to use the monkey shadow position before I get internet access. Have a nice day/night depending on where you are reading from.
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