Pilgrimage to Lake Bosomtwe

Serenity, that peace and calm aura one often desires to be engulfed in, and which often seems to elude us so, naturally thus, is always in abundance within the vicinity of the lake, making the communities that lie around Lake Bosomtwe places of effortless tranquility. No wonder it is one of the most popular recreational spots in Ghana’s interior!

Located some 30km southeast of Kumasi, the natural circular lake is 363ft above sea level in an ancient deep meteorite impact crater, the only natural lake in Ghana, and the largest in the world.

It has over 70,000 inhabitants spread among some 20 odd communities, including numerous hospitality facilities for out-of-town visitors who want to enjoy the quietude of the locality, and recently, I was among a small group of adventure seekers who went on a domestic tour to Abonu, one of the proximate communities of the lake, where we stayed at the affable Wildwin Resort.

Considered a sacred lake by the Ashantis, traditional belief says the souls of the dead come here to bid farewell to the god ‘Twi’. “Because of this,” according to Wikipedia, “it is considered permissible to fish in the lake only from wooden planks.”

Also often spelt Bosumtwi, legend has it that in 1648, an Ashanti hunter named Akora Bompe from the town of Asaman was chasing an injured antelope through the rainforest when suddenly the animal disappeared into a small pond. It was as if this body of water wanted to save the animal’s life.

The hunter never got the antelope, though he settled close to the water and started catching fish. He named the place Bosumtwi, meaning antelope god.

Large dead trees standing offshore in the lake give evidence to the fact that the lake might have been merely a small pond some 300 years ago, as the trees are over that age.

The following centuries have seen several wars about the lake as both the Ashanti and the Akim have clashed, each claiming the area, but with the Ashanti prevailing.

One of the many hospitality offerings that has emerged along the lake in recent times is Wildwin, whose owner, Priscilla, is an effervescent young woman most passionate about making her resort the destination of choice and a haven for leisure seekers.

The small quarters that houses the resort’s eight rooms of varying sizes and configuration lies about 500m up on the hill, from where one can have a panoramic view of the beauty of the landscape.

It also has a wide manicured lawn running down to the shore, giving the occasion to sit right by the bank. A little wooden pier on the shore adds to the picture, and from there, you can board the resort’s foot paddleboats and scull away into the lake on an unhurried cruise.

Domestic tour promoters Adventure Junkies organised the excursion. We were 18 on this trip, and arrived at Wildwin around 4pm, having set off at dawn from Accra, arriving for a hearty breakfast at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi, prior to visiting the Komfo Anokye Sword and Manhyia Palace Museum, before making our way to Abonu, the first community when approaching from Kuntenase, off the Accra-Kumasi road at Ejisu.

•  kofiakpabli@gmail.com Kofi Akpabli is author of Tickling the Ghanaian- Encounters with Contemporary Culture and A Sense of Savannah-Tales of a Friendly Walk through Northern Ghana.