The redeveloped Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, with a cost of $3.5 million, is scheduled to be commissioned on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, by the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The park holds great significance as it serves as a monument dedicated to the memory of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and also houses the mortal remains of both Dr Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah.
Situated on the former British colonial Polo Grounds in Accra, where Ghana’s independence was proclaimed, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has been a popular attraction since its establishment in 1992, drawing approximately 98,000 visitors each year. Its popularity has earned it a place among the top 10 most visited sites in Ghana.
Over the years, the park had experienced a lack of significant renovations, resulting in various issues with its facilities. Problems such as malfunctioning fountains, leaky roofs in the museum, and inadequate washrooms and VIP lounges had arisen.
Recognising the importance of tourism in the country’s development, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo acknowledged tourism as a crucial element in social advancement.
In 2018, he successfully secured a $40 million loan from the World Bank to enhance the tourism environment and develop various sites and destinations.
In July 2022, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture initiated a comprehensive rehabilitation and redevelopment plan for the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
The primary objectives of this initiative were to preserve the park’s historical value, increase its visitor capacity, and enhance the overall service delivery to tourists. With these renovations, the park is poised to offer an improved and more memorable experience to tourists and history enthusiasts from around the world.
