Mount Afadja as seen from the village of Liati Wote
Mount Afadja, known in the Ewe language as Afadjato, is the highest mountain in Ghana. The summit of this peak is located near the border with Togo, in the Volta Region of Ghana, close to the village of Liati Wote in Afadzato South District. It is about 178 kilometers (111 mi) northeast of Accra, and 178 kilometers (111 mi) northwest of Lomé. Part of the Agumatsa sub-range of the West Africa Mountains, its summit is 885 metres (2,904 ft) above sea level. The summit of Mount Aduadu (746 metres (2,448 ft) lies 3.5 kilometers (2 mi) to the east of Mount Afadja.
“Afadja” is the name of the mountain whereas the suffix “to” in the Ewe language means mountain therefore, it is called “Afadja-to” by the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo. The correct name would be “Mount Afadja”, as “Mount Afadjato” would be a repetition of the word “mountain”. Mount Afadja is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Volta Region of Ghana, welcoming thousands of visitors from around the globe annually.
When the Ewe people migrated to the area and saw the mountain it looked like the mound in which water yam is planted, water yam being called “Avadze” in Ewe. Moreover, there were some creeping plants on the mountain that resembled the water yam plant; they therefore called it “Avadze-to”. Today the word has been palatalized into “Afadjato” The nearby Tagbo Falls and Wli Falls (the highest in West Africa) are also considered tourist attractions. There are several caves, streams and other waterfalls in the area. The mountains location is very close to the Ghana-Togo border.
Tourist Attractions
The nearby Tagbo Falls and Wli Falls (the highest in West Africa) are also considered tourist attractions. There are several caves, streams and other waterfalls in the area. There is a plant species on the mountainsides that causes severe irritation. Shielded by the tropical forests of Ghana, the mountain provides a home to many species of flora and fauna. More than 33 species of mammals and about 300 butterfly species live in the ecological region. Also, regularly spotted in the mountains is the Mona and spotted monkeys. People often come to climb the mountain or observe the surrounding beauty.