Serene Nwoase - Home of Kwaku Firi Shrine, Ostriches

Nwoase is one of the famous and interesting communities in the Wenchi Municipality in the Bono Region.

Located about 15 kilometres from Wenchi, the community hosts the Drobo Farm, which has different animal and bird species, including Ostriches.

The birds and animals with beautiful features are the ostriches, peahen and peacocks, porcupines, wild boars, foxes, crocodiles and snakes, among others.

Currently, the farm is owned by Nana Kofi Drobo IV, the Chief Priest of the famous Kwaku Firi Shrine.

Not only that, the community has a thick forest dubbed: "Nana Kofi Drobo Forest", located close to the Nwoase Chief’s palace.

Trees, ostriches

The forest also has different kinds of tree species, including odum and mahogany, which provide a natural environment. The vegetation of the Nwoase area is generally a transitional one, because of its rich forest, which has giant trees and wildlife.

Some ostriches on the farm

Successive chiefs in the area have worked hard to protect the forest and wildlife from bushfires. So for many years, the land has not experienced bushfires.

That has earned the town several awards from environmental protection organisations. This farming community is unique because it has a serene, clean and green environment.

The Drobo Farm offers tourists a rare opportunity to view different kinds of fauna species, particularly ostriches, from close range.

An ostrich, which is an African flightless fast-running bird with a long neck and legs, as well as two toes on each foot, is known to be the largest living bird. At the farm, a male ostrich can reach a height of up to 2.75 metres.

Several tourists make a stop at the farm to see one of nature's wonders.

Kwaku Firi

Additionally, Nwoase is famous because of the popular Kwaku Firi Shrine, which is accessible to patrons on Wednesdays and Sundays. In addition, its annual Apuor festival attracts hundreds of people to the town.

During the festival, the chief priest sits in a palanquin to perform a breathtaking dance amidst traditional music and drumming.

A worker at the Drobo farm, Felix Adawia, told the Daily Graphic that animals on the farm, particularly ostriches, served as an attraction to people who visited the community.

He said tourists, including university students, travelled from far and near to have fun and conduct research on some of the animals.

"People, including foreigners, have been visiting the farm," he stated, explaining that people from Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and Koforidua were frequent visitors to the farm.

Mr Adawia explained that the ostrich farm had more than 30 ostriches. He said the facility had an incubator, which was used to hatch the eggs of the ostriches. Mr Adawia said there were 11 workers at the farm, who had been taking care of the farm and the ostriches in it.

Crime free community

A resident, Samuel Osei, told the Daily Graphic that the community was a crime-free area.

"You can't steal in this community or commit any crime. When you do, the community gods will haunt you," he said.

He explained that there was discipline in the community, adding that the community was safe to live in since people were afraid to commit crimes.

A retired educationist, Peter Asare Owusu, told the Daily Graphic that the community was a small town; however, because of the shrine and the ostrich farm, it had become popular.
He said the community was unique among several communities in the municipality because of the environment, the Drobo Farm and the shrine.

"This community is known for its serene and clean environment. Few metres to the palace of the chief priest is a beautiful Ostrich farm available for public viewing," he said.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh