President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on April 15, 2019, commissioned the new Canopy Walkway at the Kintampo Waterfalls in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
As part of the ruling New Patriotic Party’s promise to revamp the tourism industry to make it a major revenue earner for the country, the President said the government is determined to make the necessary investment and build the needed infrastructure to make Ghana the best tourism destination in Africa.
The canopy walkway was constructed through a collaborative effort of the Ghana Tourism Authority and a private developer, Bunso Arboretum Canopy Walkway LTD, with active support from the Traditional Authorities and the Municipal Assembly.
The Kintampo Waterfalls canopy walkway is part of ongoing projects to enhance the visitor experience at the Waterfalls. This adds to the increasing number of canopy walkways in Ghana, which include; the Kakum National Park, Legon Botanical Garden canopy walkway, Bonsu Arboretum canopy walkway. The Ghana Tourism Authority is working on adding a Zipline to also enhance the visitor experience.
The walkway is constructed over a valley spanning 90 meters and 80 meters at two locations. It is made up of two cables which serve as the tread way with 3 high tensioned tendons which form the structural base for the platform. The platform is made up of angle bars braced together with a wooden plate forming the walkway area.
The structural calculation and design of the canopy walkway show that the bridge can accommodate a maximum load of twenty people, each weighing an average of 100kg.
The Kintampo Waterfalls was closed down following a disaster which resulted in the deaths of 18 students from the Wenchi Methodist Senior High School and the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) who were patronizing the facility on March 19, 2017.
However, Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Nov. 19, 2017, inaugurated and re-opened the refurbished Kintampo Waterfalls.
New features of the Waterfalls
The refurbished Kintampo Waterfalls comes with an entrance fence wall and a security gate, three number souvenir/provision/artefacts shops, a toll booth and a spacious car park.
The main arena of the facility has a cafeteria, museum, offices, washroom, as well as an overhead, merchandised borehole water system, pavilions and summer huts to provide places for outdoor events by patrons.
Kintampo waterfalls is one of the highest waterfalls in Ghana.
This waterfall, one of the main natural attractions in the area, is hidden in the forest and it is formed by 3 main drops with the longest drop measuring 25 metres (82 ft) in height, and, after a number of steps and cascades, the river falls about 70 metres (230 ft).
SEE PHOTOS BELOW.
