Devastating Afadjato Forest fire halts tourism, ravages livelihoods

A forest fire has destroyed much of the tree cover on Mount Afadjato, Ghana's highest peak, disrupting tourism in Liati-Wote, a resort town in the Volta Region.

The fire, blamed on careless charcoal burning, raged for three days, destroying cocoa, plantain, and maize farms, and killing wildlife.

Chief Togbe Kordadza V described the blaze as a severe blow to the community's economy, which depends on farming and the 8,834 tourists who visited in 2024.

Tours to Afadjato and Tagbo Falls were briefly halted but have since resumed.

In addition to fire recovery, residents face severe water shortages and poor roads. The community is exploring preventive measures, including a vigilante group, to protect against future fires.

"We can't let this happen again," stressed Site Manager Albert Tawia.