A rich history of education, religious memorial sites and waterfalls gives Akuapim North a multifaceted character. Akropong is home to two educational institutions with distinct historical descriptions; Larteh brings together a memorial chapel and a shrine of religious and cultural significance, while Obom is associated with a cave and an old slave route. These local connections offer a thematic choice between the history of education and religion, and nature.
Educational History in Akropong
The Salem Boarding School in Akropong is described as Ghana’s first boarding school for boys; the year 1867 is associated with it. The Presbyterian Training College in Akropong is described as Ghana’s first institution for higher formal education and is associated with the year 1848. Comparing them brings together two different types of educational institution: a boarding school for boys and an institution for higher formal education.
The Early Basel Missionaries Cemetery is located in Akropong-Daakye. It adds a cemetery as another historic site alongside the educational institutions. If you wish to visit individual sites, check access in advance.
Memory, Religion and Historic Routes
The Samuel Otu Memorial Chapel in Larteh was built in honour of the first Ghanaian Christian martyr, who was publicly executed by beheading in Takyimantia. This memorial connection links the chapel to a specific historical figure and the place of his execution. Also in Larteh is the Akonnedi Shrine, a shrine of religious and cultural significance and a place of consultation. The two sites represent different emphases: the chapel as a memorial site and the shrine as a place of religious and cultural consultation.
In Obom, the Obom Cave and the old slave route served as refuges for warriors of that time. Their shared historical function links two different types of site and offers a different emphasis from the histories of education and remembrance in Akropong and Larteh.
Waterfalls and Festival Traditions
Amenapa Waterfall in Akropong is listed as a tourist attraction in Akuapem. The Adom Waterfalls in Obosomase are also listed as an attraction in Akuapem North. Their names point to different local connections and complement the historical themes with nature. In Kwamoso, a palm is known as the “six-in-one palm tree,” providing another notable landscape feature.
Odwira and Ohum are also part of the cultural landscape: a municipal description for 2018–2021 stated that both festivals were celebrated annually in the municipality’s larger towns. If you wish to plan a trip around either festival, check the current dates in advance.
More Experiences in the Eastern Region
The wider destination of the Eastern Region is also home to the seasonal Boti Waterfall near Huhunya in Yilo Krobo Municipality; it is about 30 metres high. This adds a natural attraction with a seasonal character and an approximate height to the waterfall themes of Akuapim North.
Another experience in the wider Eastern Region is the Kwahu Paragliding Festival. The paragliding event was launched in 2005 on Odweanoma at Atibie Kwahu. The festival features three days of flying activities, ceremonies and music, and takes place annually at Easter in Kwahu. The regional examples therefore also differ in timing: Boti is seasonal, while the festival is an annual Easter event. Check the current event dates for the year you plan to travel.
At Bunso Eco Park, you can explore the arboretum on a guided tour and learn about native and exotic plants. Here, the focus is on plants and their diversity rather than on a waterfall. Check whether the guided tour is currently available before making plans.
Discover more destinations: Mamfe, Asuogyaman.
Go to the wider travel overview: Eastern Region.
