If you are looking for a place to learn about Ghana’s history and culture, you might want to check out the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.
The park, which was recently revamped and modernised by President Akufo-Addo, is a tribute to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who led the country to independence in 1957.
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The park was originally built in 1990 by the late Jerry John Rawlings and opened to the public in 1992.
It occupies the former British colonial Polo Grounds, where Dr Nkrumah famously declared Ghana’s independence. It also serves as the final resting place for him and his wife, Fathia Nkruma
However, the park had not undergone any significant renovation in its 25-year existence. It suffered from various issues such as malfunctioning fountains, leaky roofs in the museum, and deteriorating facilities.
That’s why, in 2018, President Akufo-Addo secured a $40 million loan facility from the World Bank through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to enhance the tourism sector and address its constraints.
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Part of this loan was used to rehabilitate and redevelop the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum.
The project, which cost about $3.5 million, started on July 19, 2022 and was completed in March 2023. It was officially commissioned by President Akufo-Addo on July 4, 2023 and opened to the public on July 11, 2023.
The revamped Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park now boasts of new and improved features such as:
* A presidential library with books, documents and artefacts related to Dr Nkrumah’s life and legacy
The park has also been commercialised to generate revenue for its maintenance and operation. The park charges different fees for visitors depending on their nationality and age. Here are the prices for touring the park:
* Ghanaians
* Children: GHS5
* Junior High School and Senior High School students: GHS10
* Tertiary students: GHS15
* Adults: GHS25
* Non-Ghanaians
* Children: GHS30
* Tertiary students: GHS60
* Adults: GHS100
The park is open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 8:30am to 11pm.
The park can also be leased for events such as weddings, parties, concerts and conferences. The fees for holding an event at the park are:
* During the day (for the first two hours): GHS2000
* During the night (for the first two hours): GHS3000
According to Edward Quao, the Acting Director of the Park, the fees are necessary to enable the smooth running of the edifice. He also said that he was satisfied with the patronage of the park so far.
President Akufo-Addo said that the renovated and modernised park befits the status of Dr Nkrumah as an outstanding pan-Africanist and a champion of Africa’s liberation from colonialism and imperialism. He also said that the park would help attract more tourists to Ghana and boost the country’s economy.
He urged the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority to leverage on the Year of Return, Beyond the Return and Destination Ghana initiatives that he launched to position Ghana as a destination of choice.
He also said that his government aims to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP from five percent to 10 percent, as well as attract five million tourists by 2024.
What do you think of the new Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park?
Source independent Ghana