Koforidua, Tourist Places to Visit in Koforidua, New-Juaben, Ghana, Africa
Koforidua, also known as K-dua, is the capital city of the Eastern Region of Ghana, lying around 238 meters above sea level. It is the administrative centre of the New-Juaben Municipal district, holding a state of one of the calmest cities of Ghana. Koforidua is situated to the north of the national capital, Accra, between 6°06′ N latitude and 0°16′ W longitude.
The economy of Koforidua is concentrated on its industries, mainly textile and soap productions. The tourist attractions of Koforidua are nationally recognized and the most important ones are the Obuo Tabri Mountain, Akosombo Dam and Akaa Falls.
History of Koforidua:
It is believed that Koforidua got its name from Kofi Ofori, who belonged to the Akan group and constructed a hut under a giant mahogany tree that was used by weary farmers to take a rest on their way to returning their houses from the farms. The migrated Akan people from Asanteman were the founder of Koforidua, founded in 1875.
Getting Koforidua:
Koforidua is served by the Kotoka International Airport, the most important airport of Ghana, situated around near Accra, around 75 km south of the midpoint of Koforidua. This airport handles flights from many global destinations including New York City, London, Milan, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Istanbul and Johannesburg.
There are buses frequently plying between Koforidua and Accra and many other important southern Ghanaian cities.
To move within Koforidua, buses are the primary options and taxis and rental cars are also accessible.
Culture, Shopping and Food in Koforidua:
Akans dominate the population of Koforidua, who celebrate the event of The Big Journey Festival annually to mark their migration from Asanteman to Koforidua.
The shopping sector of Koforidua is upgraded, with plenty of branded apparels showrooms, shoe stores and traditional markets. Koforidua is also famous for restaurants.
Things to do in Koforidua:
- Hiking
- Mountain climbing
- Day tours
- Shopping
Places of interest in Koforidua:
Obuo Tabri:
Being a paradise of nature lovers, the Obuo Tabri is one of the top tourist attractions of Koforidua, famous among locals as a sacred mountain.
Akosombo Dam:
The Akosombo Dam is constructed over the Volta River in the proximity of the largest man-made lake in the world, the Lake Volta. Opened in 1965, the dam measures a length of 660 meters and width of 366 meters.
Waterfalls in Koforidua:
Koforidua is the site of many renowned natural attractions including Akaa Falls and Boti Falls of which both draw loads of nature lovers during rainy season to have its natural beauties.
Umbrella Rock:
The Umbrella Rock is a distinct tourist attraction, located at the Boti Falls in the district of Yilo Krobo, around 10 km away from Koforidua. Including its umbrella shape and location, everything is famous among visitors.
List of the other places of interest in and around Koforidua include:
- E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre
- Parliament House of Ghana
- The National Theatre of Ghana
- Labadi Beach
- Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
- Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop
- The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Artists Alliance Gallery
- Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity
- Academy for African Music and Arts
- Aburi Botanical Gardens
- National Museum of Ghana
- Kwame Nkrumah’s Mausoleum
- Kokrobite Beach
- Resurrection Presbyterian Church
Best time to visit Koforidua:
Probably the ending and beginning months of the year are ideal to travel Koforidua to explore its natural attractions.
Accommodation options in Koforidua:
Hotels are limited in Koforidua, so it would be better if one can consider hotels in Accra to make tour memorable by staying at a world class hotel. The prominent hotels in Koforidua and Accra (around 80 km) are as follows:
- Capital View Hotel
- Bedtime Hotel
- Linda Dor Hotel
- Mac-Dic Royal Plaza Hotel
- Ananse Village
- Labadi Beach Hotel
- Tulip Inn Accra Hotel
- La Villa Boutique Hotel
- Gye Nyame Hotel
- Novotel Accra City Centre
- Holiday Inn Accra Airport
- La Palm Royal Beach Hotel
- Bojo Beach Resort
- African Sun Amber Hotel
- Coconut Grove Regency Hotel