Cruising on the Kakum, the Kintampo, the Legon botanical gardens and the several other canopy walkways in Ghana has always been fun and memorable experience for pleasure seekers.
Apart from the admiration for the walkways and the wonderful memories we make, I am pretty sure majority of us have never thought about who knitted the “thread” we excitedly cruise on.
I’m sure most of us will confidently tick the wrong answer in an examination if we are to choose between a foreigner and a Ghanaian.
Now meet the engineer of all the canopy walkways in Ghana, Kenneth Akuffo Asare.
Unrenowned Kenneth Akuffo Asare hails from Akyem Maase in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
He did not only construct the canopy walkways in Ghana but also crossed borders to Nigeria.
In an interview with Kofi TV, Mr. Akuffo Asare disclosed that he built the Kwara State Canopy Walkway in Nigeria which is reputed as the longest in Africa.
“I made that of Kakum national park, Legon Botanical Gardens, Bunso Canopy Walkway, Kintampo waterfalls, Ankasa Forest, Nigeria Kwara State walkway and one at Akosombo,” Mr. Akuffo Asare revealed.
Where did he learn the craft from?
He said, in 1994, the Late Ato Austin who was the Central Regional Secretary at the time, saw a canopy walkway in Malaysia when he visited the country and was hopeful it will be beneficial to citizens and boost tourism if same things are constructed in Ghana.
The late Ato Austin met the Canadian constructors and invited them to Ghana to construct a similar walkway.
According to Mr. Akuffo Asare, the aged Canadians needed a Ghanaian who could take up the maintenance work after the construction.
“I was a parrot trapper at the time. One day, Mr. Bernard Asamoah Boateng who worked at the wildlife division told me some whitemen need a Ghanaian to help them as they manufacture the canopy walkway. I thought it was the normal canopy used as shade. They needed someone with climbing techniques and I was chosen and taught how to use the safety belts and ropes for climbing,” he said.
I started working on walkways in September 1994 at Kakum and in April 1995, we had completed work on the Kakum walkway. They employed me as a maintenance manager. I did that job till 2014 but in 2012, I had a contract from Nigeria where I made some money and decided to establish myself. I resigned and opened my own business,” he added.
Mr. Asare is now the proud owner of a private firm that deals in the manufacture and maintenance of canopy walkways in Ghana and beyond.
He is looking forward to build zip line cable ride at Kintampo Waterfalls and a camping home for tourists.
Watch the full conversation below
By: Kekeli Kuatsenu/awakenewsonline.com
