The Akosombo Dam is the reason this town exists. Built between 1961 and 1965 with American and World Bank financing, it dammed the Volta River in a narrow gorge through the Akwapim hills and created Lake Volta — the largest man-made reservoir by surface area in the world. The hydroelectric station inside the dam still produces a major share of Ghana's electricity and exports power to neighbouring Togo and Benin.
Guided tours of the dam structure can be arranged through the Volta River Authority (VRA) visitor centre — book in advance, bring your passport, and expect security checks. The viewpoint above the spillway, on the road up from town, is the easier option and gives a good sense of the scale of the wall and the gorge beneath. Photography rules are strict; ask permission first.