The redeveloped Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which was completed at a cost of approximately $3.5 million, will be officially commissioned on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park holds great historic significance in Ghana as it is dedicated to the memory of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
It also serves as the final resting place for Dr Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah.
The park is situated along the coast of Accra, on the former British colonial Polo Grounds, where Dr Nkrumah famously declared Ghana’s independence.
The late former Head of State, Jerry John Rawlings, initiated the construction of the park in 1990 to honour Ghana’s first President and preserve the nation’s heritage. The park was opened to the public in 1992 and has since attracted a significant number of visitors, with approximately 98,000 individuals from around the world visiting each year. It ranks among the top 10 most visited sites in Ghana.
Over the years, the park had deteriorated, with limited maintenance and operational challenges. The fountains, which are major attractions, were not functioning properly, and the museum’s roof leaked during rainfall, hindering visitors’ experiences. The VIP lounge, where notable guests signed the visitors’ book, and certain sections of the washrooms were also in a dilapidated state.
Recognizing the importance of tourism for the country’s development, President Akufo-Addo declared tourism a key driver of economic growth upon assuming office in 2017.
In 2018, his government secured a $40 million loan facility from the World Bank, facilitated by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to enhance the tourism environment, address constraints, develop tourist sites, and support tourism enterprises and business development.
On July 19, 2022, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, initiated the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum.
The project has now been completed, and the official commissioning will take place on Tuesday.
