Pretty, foggy, chilly Kpoeta

Kpoeta is a traditional area in the Ho West District in the Volta Region made up of the communities of Ashanti, Achem, Kpodzi and Adorfe.

Lying at the height of 559 metres above sea level, the heavily forested enclave, which has a population of about 9,000 is always densely foggy, a phenomenon which holds first-time visitors to the area captive.

The heavy fog hovers just above the ground and can be seen in classrooms, living rooms and bedrooms of many homes. With the prevailing thick mist, one can hardly see beyond 50 metres at certain times of the day.

Temperatures at Kpoeta can fall to as low as 10 degrees Celsius, with drizzles often falling through the fog. With that cold climate, the people of Kpoeta decades ago cultivated Irish potatoes, apples and grapes for many, with support from the German missionaries.

The soils of Kpoeta guaranteed bountiful harvests of the produce over the decades until the missionaries left.

The Divisional Chief of Kpoeta-Achem, Togbe Avlor III, explained that the departure of the missionaries resulted in the lack of support and ready market for those produce.

Today, however, Kpoeta is an important producer of cocoa, coffee and bitter cola which is an aphrodisiac in high demand.

Banana is also produced in abundance and supplied to other parts of the Volta Region, as well as Agormetormegbe, Klotou, Kuma, Hanyigbatodzi, Kpalime and Lome in neighbouring Togo. It takes only 15 minutes to walk from Kpoeta to Togo.

Rivers

Kpoeta is blessed with about 10 rivers and evergreen mountains, rich culture, diverse music in the forms of borborbor, gabada, avihe (dirges), agblehe (farm songs) and a glorious waterfall known as Tsiga (big water) at Achem.

Among the artisans in Kpoeta are carpenters and masons of unmatched experience, a legacy from the missionaries. The area also boasts of a large reservoir of electricians who are present at home and other parts of the country.

One striking feature in Kpoeta is the friendly nature of the people who are ready to host visitors unconditionally and share meals with them as members of the same family.

Scenery

The well-preserved scenery, hospitality of the indigenes, clean air, calm weather, food and fruits are natural assets which make Kpoeta exceptionally pleasant.

From Kpedze to Kpoeta, the beauty of the green mountains and valleys can compel visitors to gape at nature for hours. The phenomenal manner in which traders arrange bananas along the road is also fascinating and the piercing rays of the striving sun through the dominant fog is another evidence of environmental beauty in Kpoeta.

Serenity is the hallmark of Kpoeta where there is virtually no crime. There are no mosquitoes in Kpoeta due to the cold weather, and so, there are no cases of malaria in the beautiful and wonderful land of Kpoeta.