The Volta Region is Ghana’s most easterly region, bordering Togo. It is a stunningly beautiful place. The rolling hills and valleys, rocky outcrops facing Lake Volta, as well as lagoons, rivers, and waterfalls, are one of nature’s most beautiful gifts to Ghana. The region ranges from the Atlantic coast’s coastal plains to the drylands of the north, with a wide range of weather conditions. From the sun-dappled beaches and mangrove swamps of the coastal plain to the wet deciduous rain forests of the middle belt, where Mt. Afadjato, at 885 meters, is Ghana’s highest peak, to the parched savannah of northern Ghana, you can experience practically every tropical climate in West Africa.
Arguably, the region is one of the best tourist destinations in Ghana. I can say, it is the second-best destination in Ghana for beach vacations while the Western region is the first. If you are in Ghana or now visiting Ghana for the first time, add Volta region to your bucket list since it hosts some of the best tourist destinations in Ghana.
Mrpocu.com has put together a guide to help you know more about the region and visit without any stress. From budget tips, places to visit, and places to eat. This guide is the best you can get on the internet.
After exploring Volta Region for three days, I have worked hard putting this guide together to also help you explore. If you find this article useful, share it with others to help them visit or explore the region without any stress.
Fact About My Guide
Although the Volta region is not one of Ghana’s largest, it is difficult to wrap your head around it. It’s difficult to produce a book that covers the entire diverse region, but I’ve found a method to make it very simple for anyone visiting the region for the first time or currently living there.
Depending on the season you travel, certain destinations may be a little pricey to stay and explore (Christmas and new year). Even though it can get pricey in some regions, it will have no effect on your budget. As a result, this handbook covers the entire region. Because every portion of the Volta region has something to offer every visitor.
About Volta Region
The Volta Region, with Ho as its headquarters, is one of Ghana’s sixteen administrative regions. The territory, which is divided into 25 administrative districts, is multi-ethnic and multilingual, with ethnic groupings like as the Ewe, Guan, and Akan peoples. The Lolobi, Likpe, Akpafu, Buem, and Nkonya (now part of the Oti area) peoples are among the Guan peoples. In December 2018, this region was separated from the larger Volta Region.
The Volta Region is located in Ghana’s southeast corner and is surrounded on the east by the Volta Lake, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Togo, and on the north by the Oti region. One of nature’s most attractive gifts to Ghana is its environment of rolling hills and valleys with rocky outcrops, lagoons, rivers, and waterfalls.
The Volta Region, which runs from the Atlantic coast’s coastal plains to the drylands of the north, has a wide range of climatic conditions. Traveling from the coastal plains, bordered by sunny beaches and mangrove swamps, via the deciduous rain forests of the central belt—the location of Mount Afadja—to the parched savanna of northern Ghana, visitors can experience practically every tropical climate in West Africa.
What is Volta Region Know For?
The Volta Region is known for its colorful festivals and boisterous celebrations. The inhabitants of Wli celebrate a one-of-a-kind holiday to praise God for the gift of water, while the Anlos celebrate the legendary Hogbetsotso festival (which translates to “festival of Exodus” in Ewe). On the first Saturday in November, a cleansing ceremony is held, followed by several days of village cleaning, street sweeping, and garbage burning.
Locals perform the traditional Borborbor dance at the festival’s conclusion, while chiefs dress in colorful regalia and receive honor from their subjects. The Volta festivals’ joyful dancing and singing serve as a reminder of the region’s great diversity of history and tribal culture.
What Language Is Spoken in Volta Region?
Sekpele (number 53 on the Ghana map) is one of the many languages spoken in Ghana’s Volta Region, according to Ethnologue: Languages of the World (1992, 264). A community called Likpe (Mu) speaks the language north of Hohoe in southern Ghana (ibid., 270).
Volta Region Towns
These are popular places you can see in Volta Region of Ghana
Keta, Hohoe, Kpando, Ho, Aflao, Amedzofe, Abor, Abutia, Adidome, Brewaniase, Gbafi, Nogokpo, Peki, Sogakope, Sokpoe, Weta, Tegbi.
Volta Region Districts
Volta Region is divided into 18 administrative districts namely Adaklu Anyigbe, South Dayi (Kpeve), North Dayi (Kpando, South Tongu (Sogakope), North Tongu (|Adidome), South Ketu, North Ketu, South Nkwanta, North Nkwanta, Ho Municipal, Hohoe Municipal, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Krachi East, Krachi West, Biakoye and Keta.
Transport System in Volta Region
Traditional taxis, buses, minibusses (trotro), and tricycle motors are all available in the Volta region. All of these modes of transportation, particularly the tricycle, are inexpensive. So keep that in mind if you’re on a budget and want to visit the Volta region.
If you’re on a budget, taking the minibusses (trotro) is another good alternative. It’s just a little annoying at first, but you’ll grow used to it.
Taxis are frequently shared. You’ll have to pick and choose among the other passengers, too. If you book or request ‘Dropping,’ however, you will have it all to yourself.
The Vip bus system connects all to other regions from Volta region.
Volta region Festivals
These are top festivals one can attend in the Volta Region of Ghana:
Hogbetsotso Festival
When the Anlo Ewes, an ethnic group on Ghana’s eastern coast, initially moved from Southern Sudan, they are thought to have settled in Notsie, Togo. According to legend, they escaped Ago-Koli, the oppressive ruler of Notsie, by walking backward. The people created this annual “”Festival of the Exodus”” to honor the exodus and the bravery of their traditional kings who guided them on the voyage. The festival is marked by a number of ceremonies, including a period of peacemaking during which any lingering issues are intended to be resolved.
This is a traditional stool cleansing ceremony as well as a period of general cleaning in which the communities are swept and trash is burned. This cleansing ceremony begins at the Volta Estuary and continues for days until it reaches the Mono River in Benin’s Republic. A durbar of Chiefs and people is an important part of the event. Chiefs don ostentatious regalia and sit in state to elicit adoration from their subjects. Throughout the event, there is dancing, singing, and general merriment. The main durbars are held in Anloga, 15 kilometers west of Keta and a two-and-a-half-hour journey from Accra, on the first Saturday of November every year.
Agbamevoza (kente festival)
Every year in August, the chiefs and people of the Agotome traditional territory, a few kilometers east of Ho, who are definitely Ga-Adanbges, hold their annual Kente festivities. By all accounts, this is a one-of-a-kind celebration. People from long ago claim to have introduced the craft of Kente weaving to modern-day Ghana, and as a result, a colorful festival has been held to commemorate the occasion. The event concludes with a durbar of chiefs and subjects, where several types of Kente cloth are displayed.
The Kente-weaving competition is a distinctive feature of the event, and the winner is crowned. Miss “Agbamevor” (Miss Kente) INS was chosen on Saturday evening. Thousands of people from far and wide, including tourists, attend this one-of-a-kind celebration.
Amu (Rice) Festival
The festival is called a harvest festival since it is centered on the rice harvest. It is commemorated in Vane, the Avatime people’s ancestral capital. It is observed from the last week of November to the first week of December.
It does get a large number of visitors. People from the Ahanta districts of the Western Region relocated to Avatime, and their drumming, dancing, and singing represent their battles with the indigenous inhabitants of the land they now call home.
Sasadu Festival
The SASADU festival is held in October by any of the four communities that make up the SASADU, namely Saviefe, Akrofu, Soviet, and Alavanyo (on a rotating basis).
It is a pompous and pageantry-filled festival intended to renew the familial bond that exists between the four communities that are supposed to be descended from the same stock. The occasion is crowned by a great durbar of chiefs.
Dzawuwu Festival
Every February, the chiefs and people of the Agave traditional territory gather in Dabala, their main commercial center, to celebrate the annual Dzawuwu festival. It’s essentially a Thanksgiving celebration in which special dishes are offered to the gods. It also honors the valor of previous Agaves who fought and won numerous wars. It is time to pay respects to those who have passed away and pour libation for the people to renew their allegiance to their rulers.
It culminates with a magnificent durbar of chiefs. There is a lot of drumming and dancing.
Tourist sites In Volta Region
Wli Waterfalls
Wli Falls is the highest waterfall in all of West Africa! You must descend around 250 steps to observe the waterfall from below, where it is most spectacular. You’ll be taken aback by the sight of interesting waters splashing in white on the ground directly in front of you before flowing away, leaving you stunned and astonished.
Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary
The residents of Tafi Atome have a unique approach to monkey care. Because of the traditional significance associated with monkeys, these people hold them in high regard. In fact, these folks perform burial ceremonies for dead monkeys before burying them in a cemetery specifically designed to house dead monkeys. The monkeys are now so at ease with people that they eat from their hands. The Mona monkey is the most common monkey found in this area.
Amedzofe Village
At about 600 meters, Amedzofe is the highest livable spot in Ghana, nestled at the foot of Mt. Gemi. Hiking up the mountain and to a beautiful waterfall in the valley is an option for visitors. German missionaries built a church and a bell tower on one of the highest points in the settlement in the 1930s, along with a 4-meter-tall huge cross on top of Mt. Gemi. In clear weather, both the peak and the church site offer spectacular views all the way to Lake Volta.
Fort Prinzenstein
After a fight with the people of Anlo and Keta, the Danes built Fort Prinzenstein in 1784. It is the only slave Fort east of the Volta River, and it served as the hub of the Danish slave trade in Africa.
TAGBO FALLS
Tagbo Falls is a waterfall in Ghana near Mount Afadjato, located at Liati Wote, some 27 kilometers east of Hohoe settlement. The water falls in various phases, the last of which is roughly 60 meters high. The location is encircled by woodland.