When the people of Juaben in Ashanti region settled in Koforidua in 1875, little did they know that they were going to be the haven for many things. The Eastern Regional Capital city has been in the news for various reasons.
The name Koforidua Flowers has come to remain and may never go away, even though many older folks have tried to explain that there were lots of flowers between Akwadum and Koforidua as one entered the city, and this is the origin of the name “Koforidua Flowers”, the wider and accepted school of thought says otherwise.
The proverbial name has been around since the 50s. According to some elderly people in the city, the name originated from the beauty of the ladies who migrated into the city at the turn of the century for trade purposes. Most of these ladies ended up staying permanently in the city, and more or less became indigenes. Most of them were in their late teens and early twenties. They were said to have come from mostly the Krobo and Akyem areas, as a considerable number of them were also from the Kwahu mountains. The city is said to have had so many women as it was a major trade hub in the mid-50s with many entertaining events happening every week.
These activities, according to the Abesimhene who granted an interview to the Daily Graphic, used to happen at the city’s community centre. Even though this was not the only place where such activities used to happen, it was the primary place for revellers. These events used to be characterised by live bands and concerts.
The name might not go away as it has seen an increase in its usage as a result of the many more flowers which have graced the city through the tertiary institutions, numerous Senior High Schools and private establishments, notably banks and insurance firms.
Some older folks claim “the flowers have withered” as they migrate to Accra.
The next time you visit Koforida, consciously find out if the flowers are still available.
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