Wli,
Ghana's highest waterfall is great in any ways and has a bright future
ahead. First to admire is the sheer grandeur of the fall itself; the
spectacular white water of the Agumatsa River thundering about 60 meters
down steep cliffs into a large pool below.
Second are the massive mountain formations comprising of soaring peaks and
rock walls which are part of the Akwapim-Togo Mountains.
Another attraction about Wli is the
luxurious forest environment currently designated as the Agumatsa wildlife
sanctuary. Accessibility is another advantage for Wli, visitors don't have
to climb any hills or descend steep valleys to get to the foot of this
awesome geological monument.
Once at Afegame, Wli, as shall soon be
detailed, is an easy and leisurely 45 minutes trek away from town, reached
via a broad tree-shaded path winding along the meandering course of the
Agumatsa River. One good prospect favoring the long-term protection and
development of the great falls and its environ is the positive enthusiasm
demonstrated by the chiefs, district assembly and people of the area towards
developing this natural treasure into a popular attraction. It was about ten
years ago that government declared three square kilometers of the
surrounding lands a wildlife sanctuary and opened an office of the Wildlife
Division at Afegame to help protect the sanctuary.
Fortunately, community support that is
essential for Eco tourism development of the attraction was intact. In fact,
long before Wli got the attention of the tourism world, the people had
always revered the mighty waterfalls and had protected it through various
traditional sanctions and celebrations which are highlighted in the Agumatsa
festival held in November every year. During the festival, the people thank
God for the falls, ancestral heroes are remembered and the guardian spirits
of the river and the mountains are invoked to continue blessing the land and
its produce. For visitors from Accra, the 220-kilometer journey to Wli is
exciting experience. From the capital, the road goes through the Tema
motorway, passing the expanding industrial twin city, then along the Shai
Hills wildlife Resources which incorporates other huge rocky highlands, or
inselbergs, such as the remarkable Twin-Rocks all lined up on the right side
while the Akwapem Mountain rises in the far horizon to the northwest. Soon
after, the Volta River starts appearing near Kpong, followed by the road to
the stopover town of Atimpoku where the beautiful arch of the suspended
Adomi Bridge crosses the mighty Volta River, a short distance below the
gigantic Akosombo dam.
The path leading to the splendid falls
begins from the visitor reception centre at Afegame shaded by tall forest
trees, some of them identified by their scientific and common names by the
wildlife authorities. These include the wawa, black berry, cashew, prekese,
monkey cola, palm trees and climbing vines, whiles the forest floor is
covered with ferns and shade loving species. Beside the majestic heights of
the mountain chain, one noticeable about the peaks are the different
patterns of plant life: parts covered by dense green vegetation indicating
the windward or rainy face and the leeward side carpeted by low grass and a
few stunted tress. Some of the distant peaks look blue from different angles
while at close range, the steep cliffs appeared bare of any plants and where
large numbers of fruit bats roosted.
In addition to the well-known bats, the
forest teems with assorted animal life the most conspicuous being the
colourful insects such as butterflies and dragonflies as well birds like
pied hornbills, bulbuls, sunbirds, turtledoves, and francolins, which can be
seen in the tree canopies or heard calling in the bushes as one strolls to
and from the falls by the meandering path which crosses the Agumatsa nine
times by sturdy wooden bridges.
The falls proper consist of two parts,
an upper section, which cannot be seen from the bottom, and the main falls,
which drops so vertically that the plunging water actually disintegrates
into a white spray before collecting once more in the plunge pool below.
Meanwhile, strong winds created by the turbulence within the gorge spray the
water on the evergreen plants hanging on the cliff sides and visitors alike
who appear sooth by the cold showers. The pool below the falling water
measures about 500 square metres wide, the favourite of swimmers.
As the leading waterfall in the country,
the ongoing efforts to develop the site for Ecotourism will serve as an
important model for the many in the area such as the Tagbo and Flabo falls
as well as those in other parts of the country though the peculiar terrain
and setting of each fall would demand different approaches. The current
winding path, which blends well with the forest, should be maintained for
the sense of adventure it offers visitors especially during rainy seasons
when the ground is quiet slippery. As a suggestion, it is important that the
traditional rites associated with the protection of the Agumatsa River, such
as the observance of its holy-day of rest, as pertains with most rivers
should be declared and enforced to supplement conservation activities.
Another suggestion is for the tourism
and immigration officials on both sides of the border to meet and formulate
a common tourism strategy covering the whole area in the interest of
inter-regional development. At the recently held Africa Travel Association
marketing conference and annual congress 2006, in Accra, the Togolose
Minister for Tourism expressed the willingness of his government to work
with Ghana towards a multi destination tourism promotion strategy. It may be
smart for the Hohoe district tourism committee to invite a Togolose
delegation for a visit to Wli on say, Ghana's republic day celebration on
1st July, which has become a serious domestic tourism day on our national
calendar.
There are accommodation facilities at
Afegame for overnight visitors. Many categories of accommodation also abound
in Hohoe town; about 25 minutes drive from Afegame. For stress relieving,
cultural lessons, relief from mundane activities and socialization, l
recommend Wli waterfalls as your next holiday destination. I will probably
leave you with my first experience at Wli waterfalls. It was my first time
and l was with some friends so we went swimming for about ten minutes in the
pool, to my surprise, l felt so empty when l withdrew from the pool. The
sense of emptiness was deep that l thought something was happening to me. It
was a medical who later told me, that was stress that had left me. The
relief was very amazing and l felt so refreshed.
By Richard Kwame Debrah |