The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akufo– Addo, commissioned the redeveloped and modernized Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park on Tuesday, 4th July 2023, a year after he cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project.
The Park, which was built in 1991 and opened to the public in 1992, in the time of the 1st President of the 4th Republic, His Excellency the late Jerry John Rawlings, had not seen any renovation since then, resulting in significant deterioration of the edifice. It is for this reason that President Akufo-Addo instructed the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, to close it down temporarily for renovation to be undertaken.
Speaking during the commissioning of the redeveloped park which took place today, the president of the Republic of Ghana highlighted the fact that the GH¢30million modernised Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is in line with plans by the Government to make the park one of the best tourism and heritage attractions in West Africa.
“As the outstanding pan-Africanist of his generation, the burial site of Dr. Nkrumah must be appropriate to his status and exceptional contribution to the liberation of Africa from colonialism and imperialism.”
“The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has not only been renovated, but it has also been completely modernised to befit the status of the final resting place of the man who led us to independence in 1957, and became Ghana’s first President, the justly-celebrated Kwame Nkrumah.”
According to the daughter of the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Samia Nkrumah, the commissioning of the edifice wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of the president. The Mausoleum which serves as a Mecca for Pan Africanism is a symbol of unity for Africa.
On his part, the Country Director for World Bank, Pierre Frank Laporte described Nkrumah not only as a Pan-Africanist but also as a revolutionary and a thinker. To him, the entire tourism development project which is a 14-million-dollar project aims at developing various tourism sites across Africa hence World Bank is ready to support Ghana in terms of development in other sectors of the economy.
Hon. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture lauded the president for making the project possible. He emphasized the fact that plans were made underway where the Dubois Center, Osu Castle, amongst others will be modernized in order to make Ghana a heritage attraction in Africa.
It is interesting to note that the Park, has been fitted with enhanced features including an expanded museum, presidential library, refurbished mausoleum, a mini amphitheatre, a restaurant, a new audio-visual fountain, a modernized gift shop, a receptive facility, a digitalised payment and access system, freedom wall, an upgraded VVIP lounge, amongst others is expected to raise visitor standards, promote night life, and improve overall tourism in Ghana.
The commissioning of the park saw dignitaries including World Bank’s Country Director, Pierre Frank Laporte, CEO for GIPC Reginald Yofi Grant, Minister for Finance, Hon Ken Ofori Atta, Hon. Zenator Agyemang Rawlings, MP for Korley Klottey Constituency, other members of parliament, Traditional Rulers, Chiefs and Queen mothers gracing the occasion.
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is located on the former British colonial Polo Grounds in Accra, the same place where Dr Nkrumah declared Ghana’s independence in 1957. It was constructed in 1990 by the late Head of State, Jerry John Rawlings, to honour Ghana’s first President.
By: Diella Teku/ Public Sector Global Magazine
