Akosombo
©
Akosombo

Akosombo

Volta River dam town built beside the gorge that created Lake Volta.

Akosombo is a small, orderly town on the Volta River, built in the 1960s to house workers constructing the Akosombo Dam. The dam itself is impressive — it created Lake Volta, the world's largest man-made lake by surface area, and still generates a large share of Ghana's electricity. The surrounding hills and the sheer scale of the reservoir give the place an unexpectedly dramatic feel for such a quiet town. The hilltop St Barbara Catholic Church, built for the Italian dam engineers in the 1960s, has the best easy view of the gorge.

The town is the main gateway for boat travel on Lake Volta — see Lake Volta Cruises. The slow passenger ferry to Yeji (a two-day journey north through the lake) departs from Akosombo Port, and shorter day cruises run out to Dodi Island, which is especially lively during the annual Dodi Festival. A short drive east is Akwamufie, the ceremonial capital of the pre-colonial Akwamu kingdom. Akosombo is about two hours east of Accra by road — easy as a day trip, though an overnight stay lets you get out on the water more comfortably.

Guide

Getting There

Akosombo is about 100 km northeast of Accra by road, two to three hours depending on traffic. The drive runs up the Akosombo-Atimpoku road off the main Accra-Aflao highway; the last stretch through Atimpoku and the Adomi bridge is one of the more scenic short drives in Ghana, with views back down the Volta gorge.

Shared taxis and tro-tros run from the Tudu and Madina lorry parks in Accra; a private taxi for the day costs more but is far more comfortable. There is no airport. Most visitors come on day trips from Accra, though staying overnight in Akosombo lets you get out on the water at first light, which is the best time.

Guide

Things to Do

Akosombo is a town built around water and electricity. The Akosombo Dam, the lake it created, and the surrounding hills are the reasons to come — most visits revolve around boat trips on the lake, a look at the dam, and a short visit up to the bluff above the town for the view.