The 2025 edition of the Volta Trade and Investment Fair has kicked off with a tour of some selected tourism sites in the Volta Region.

This is targeted at stimulating anticipation ahead of the fair and unveiling the investment potential in the tourism sector.

The tour organised by the Association of Ghana Industries, the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council forms a core component of the Visit Volta initiative, tailored to sell the Volta Region and its potential to the world.

Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary

The team kicked off the tour with a visit to the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary in the Afadzato South District of the region.

The sanctuary is harboured in a sacred forest, which covers a land area of about 360 acres, serving as a habitat for over 900 Mona monkeys.

Robert Dzandzu, the Senior Tour Guide at the Sanctuary, explained that the monkeys "move in troops, taking rounds in the forest in search of food, led by a male adult. Members of the troops are under the command of the leader and owe allegiance to him."

“The male, who is the leader, has to eat and approve of the safety of the bananas we came along with before other members of the troop can take them,” he added.

He explained that the locals identify the monkeys as a deity serving as a medium of communication between them and their gods.

Due to that, the indigenous have an obligation to protect the monkeys, guarding them and the entire forest area against harm.

“We have developed a fire belt around the forest to prevent fire from destroying it. It is forbidden for anybody to cut a tree in the forest area or undertake any farming activities," he stressed.

Amedzofe Tourism enclave

The next stop was the mountainous Amedzofe community in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.

Amedzofe, the highest human settlement in Ghana above sea level, boasts the Ote Falls, Mount Gemi, misty weather, an eco-park, ancient caves, and a distinct landscape, with a canopy walkway being the latest addition.

Mount Gemi, which measures about 760 metres tall, with a premise of 50 metres, is the second highest mountain in Ghana.

A view from the top of Mount Gemi includes the scenic beauty of the countryside stretching beyond the Volta River and other human settlements.

The mountain is significant in the history of tribal wars in Ghana, identified as the spot that hosted the final Ashanti/Ewe war in the 1800s.

“This mountain was where the Ewes and the Ashantis fought their final war in 1868, where the Ewes defeated the Ashantis; it was in the valleys of this mountain,” said Robert Ame, the Assembly member for the Amedzorfe Electoral Area.

He further indicated that Gemi also holds a prominent place in the history of Christianity in Ghana, with Amedzofe hosting the first German Christian missionaries in the Volta Region.

“When you climb this mountain, you see a cross, and that cross was erected in 1939 by the German missionaries, who came here to preach the word of God. When they were celebrating their 60th anniversary in 1939, they erected that cross,” he said.

Amedzofe is one of the few communities in Ghana that experience a unique misty/hazy weather, making it a suitable destination for foreign tourists.

Canopy Walkway

The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, and his team rounded up activities with a thrilling and breathtaking experience at the Canopy Walkway.

He conquered the 279 steps to access the long canopy walkway suspended on the three top walkways, divided into two sections, measuring about 25 metres above the forest floor.

It hangs across the section where the Ote Falls streams down.

“This is a nice experience; it is very good for our health. It is not just a tourist attraction; it is more than that. I will urge everybody to come experience nature,” said Mr. Gunu after descending from the canopy walkway.

He extended an invitation to tourism enthusiasts from across the world to visit the Volta Region, promising a unique and unforgettable ecotourism experience, blended with varied investment opportunities.

He hinted that the government will adopt multi-sectoral collaboration to develop the over 120 identified tourist sites to enhance the experience of visitors and promote socioeconomic growth in the catchment areas.

The Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Johnny Arthur Qwam, described the experience as “outstanding” and a must-try for everybody.

“When you come around here, your oxygen level goes up to 99%. Come and have a try and see. Descending the 259 steps down, walking on the canopy, then ascending the steps. It is a great feeling,” he said.

He explained that the tour, which would be in four phases, aims at having “first-hand information” and designing ways to promote the tourism sector of the region and raise anticipation towards the Volta Trade and Investment Fair.

Ayush Jindal, an Indian investor who was part of the tour, was enthused at the potential he identified in the tourism and agriculture sectors.

He shared optimism and entreated his colleagues to take a trip to the Volta region, “embark on a tour in the countryside and identify the enormous potential of the Volta Region”.