It was called Nkonson-konson-bo (a chain of rock). That was the name given to the little known settlement by its inhabitants, who in 1733, had settled at the foot of the gorge formed by the Akwapim and Togo mountain ranges.
Nkonson-konson-bo soon became strategically a frontline safe haven of the militant Akwamus, who in retreat after two hundred years of conquest and imperial rule, had sought refuge in the safety provided by the hills and the river Volta It is said that the Chief of the Akwamus made his nephew headman of the community to keep a lookout for their enemies from the north of the river.
For nearly two centuries the Akwamus enjoyed the protection, security and peace of the gorge, cultivating the rich fertile land and harvesting the abundance of fish from the river Volta, without any intrusion so to speak, until Sir Albert Kitson, an Australian geologist, who first discovered bauxite in Ghana in 1915, noted Nkonson-konson-bo, as a future hydro-electric dam site. This name latter became corrupted to Akosombo.
With this remarkable discovery began the gradual but steady transformation of Akosombo into pre-eminence. World leaders, industrialists, engineers, surveyors and international celebrities from across the globe began to take express interest in what was seen as one of the biggest projects on the African continent.
Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah made the implementation of the Volta River Project the cornerstone of his vision for the development and prosperity of the newly independent nation. This gave a fresh impetus to the Volta River Project which got under way in 1961, 46 years after the potential of the gorge was first identified.
The period of construction saw a steady stream of visitors arriving in Akosombo from all parts of the world. Engineers and surveyors, industrialists and financiers, government leaders and international celebrities, either came to contribute to the implementation of the multi-purpose scheme or to get a feel of such a world famous project.
Akosombo has been carefully planned and developed with modern infrastructure and recreational facilities. The services of the world renowned architectural and engineering firm, Dioxides Associates, who had completed a master-plan for Tema, Ghana's modern sea port, were obtained to supervise the implementation of the Akosombo township project.
Decades after the township of Akosombo was built it has earned an international reputation not only as the home of one of Africas most successful development schemes but also as an important and popular tourist destination. Its scenic beauty with undulating chain of mountains and valleys hold a breadth- taking fascination for tourists and residents alike.
The construction of the Akosombo Dam has resulted in the formation of the largest man-made lake in the world in terms of surface area(8502sq.km). The Akosombo Dam and the Volta Lake together with the gigantic Hydro-Electric Power Station reveal the wonders of nature, science and technology which hold spell-bound fascination for tourists.
Today, with the introduction of a 15-year national tourism development plan, to exploit the nation's tourist potential, Akosombo is uniquely positioned to play a significant role in the realization of this programme. A systematic integrated development plan which involved the development of electric power, lake transportation, hotels and pleasure activities, as well as fishery, has offered tourism a new fillip to further exploit the vast resource base of Ghana's sovereign river, the Volta
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