The legendary Mount Obuotabiri overlooking the townKoforudua is famous for its small, calm and serene environment; unique features other regional capitals in the country may envy.
With a projected 87,215 heterogeneous population, Koforidua is the capital of the Eastern Region, as well as the New Juaben Municipality.
It is also the traditional capital of the New Juaben traditional area presided over by Daasebre (Prof. Emeritus) who Oti Boateng who is also the Omanhene.
The town is endowed with what many believe to be a pleasant climate, quality air, less crime rate, traffic and good access roads that reduce stress and anxiety.
Sandwiched between Accra and Kumasi, the town’s lush vegetation and clean environment are additional features that do not escape the appreciation of its inhabitants and visitors.
“Koforidua’s calm and small nature alone has endeared it to people who cherish stress-free environment”, says Mrs Linda Boateng, Managing Director of the Linda Dor Restaurants.
The entrepreneur thinks the unique features of the town have made it a highly preferred destination in recent years for major national conferences and social events, thanks to the multiple-rated hotels, restaurants and pubs.
The presence of first-class hotels such as the Capital View Hotel and MacDic Royal Plaza Hotel, restaurants such as the Linda Dor Restaurants and banks such as the Ghana Commercial Bank, Barclays Bank, Merchant Bank, Fidelity Bank, HFC, uniBank and rural banks have all raised the image of area in the past few years.
“Today, one does not have to travel to Accra or Kumasi to transact business”, says Samuel Addo, a public servant .
Koforidua has many of its suburbs just a walking distance apart and this alone makes the town a favourable place to live.
The people celebrate the Akwantukese Festival in the first week of November.
Access to transport in the area is quite easy. One does not have to wait for long periods to catch a taxi or a ‘trotro’ to any destination in the town which has three main lorry parks and three taxi stations located right at the centre. One can easily walk to the Central Market and the Juaben Serwaa Market.
Admittedly, the dominant business activity of the town is trading which some residents describe as ‘buying and selling’. That places Koforidua in no position to rub shoulders with capitals such as Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi in terms of employment opportunities.
For many years, the area has had only one manufacturing firm, the Intravenous Infusions Limited, plus hotels that have become the lead source of employment for the people.
The challenge has hugely been pinned on the lack of sufficient land for industrial purposes, crippling the area’s ability to attract industrial investors.
The town cannot boast a single skyscraper. Most of the structures that have been sun-baked, rusted roofing and are in dilapidated states, are at the heart of the town, serving as homes for some of the residents.
By Nana Konadu Agyemang