Akufo-Addo inaugurates redeveloped Kwame Nkrumah memorial park tomorrow

The redeveloped Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which has undergone a transformation costing approximately $3.5 million, is set to be commissioned on July 4, 2023, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park holds great historical significance in Ghana as it is dedicated to the memory of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

It serves as the final resting place for the remains of Dr Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah.

The park is situated on the former British colonial polo grounds in Accra, where Ghana’s independence was declared.

Originally built in 1990 by the late Head of State Jerry John Rawlings to preserve Ghana’s heritage and honour its first President, the park had not seen significant renovation in its 25 years of existence. Over time, the fountains, which are major attractions, stopped functioning properly, affecting visitation.

The museum’s roof leaked during rainfall, making tours a challenge.

The VIP lounge and washroom facilities were also in a deteriorating state.

Recognising the crucial role of tourism in Ghana’s development, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo declared tourism as a means of social advancement upon assuming office in 2017.

In 2018, a $40 million loan facility was secured from the World Bank through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.

This funding aimed to enhance the tourism environment, address constraints affecting the sector, develop tourism sites and destinations, and support tourism enterprises and business development services.

On July 19, 2022, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, marked the beginning of the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum.

The redevelopment has now been completed, and the official commissioning will take place on July 4, 2023, by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The government, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP), recognises the historical significance of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and its contribution to Ghana’s history.

Therefore, efforts have been made to uplift the monument to a deserving stature, befitting the first President of Ghana, while also generating resources for the country’s development.