President Akufo-Addo, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), declared that the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has triggered a notable upswing in tourism, both from within the country and abroad.
Highlighting the surge in visitors post-commissioning, the President disclosed that between July 14 and December 31, 2023, a total of 208,557 individuals, encompassing domestic and international tourists, visited the park.
He underscored that various enhancements were made to other facilities, garnering interest from the private sector for the development of additional tourist sites.
Notably, the national museum gallery, closed since 2015, underwent full refurbishment, attracting over 35,000 visitors in 2023, including school children.
In emphasizing the importance of preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage, President Akufo-Addo announced the construction of the country’s inaugural Kente museum at Bonwire in the Ashanti region.
He said: “Mr Speaker, for the first time since the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was constructed in 1992, Government has undertaken a full modernisation rehabilitation of the facility. Since the commissioning of the modernised park in July 2023, the number of domestic and international visitors has risen dramatically.
“A national newspaper, reporting on activities at the revamped Park, had a screaming headline which said AKUFO-ADDO RESURRECTS NKRUMAH. That gave me pause for a moment, but, on reflection, I decided I would accept it, be it a compliment, or criticism or an addition to the collection of sayings by our elders. Whichever it is, since the commissioning, there have been two hundred and eight thousand, five hundred and fifty-seven (208,557) domestic and international visitors to the Park between 14th July and 31st December 2023. Mr Speaker, compare that, if you may, with the best performance until then, which was in the Year of Return in 2019, when there were one hundred and twenty-six thousand, one hundred and ninety (126,190) visitors in the year. Other facilities are being upgraded, and it is good to note that the private sector is showing interest, and getting into the development of tourist attraction sites”.
This initiative aims to safeguard and promote Ghana’s rich cultural legacy.
Furthermore, the President assured that preparatory works and construction design for Heroes Park, dedicated to commemorating Ghana’s “big six,” were completed in the previous year, with construction set to commence soon.
President Akufo-Addo reflected on a headline from a national newspaper, stating “AKUFO-ADDO RESURRECTS NKRUMAH,” acknowledging the significant increase in visitors since the park’s modernization. He shared the visitor statistics, comparing them with previous years, noting the remarkable growth in attendance since the park’s commissioning in July 2023.
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park underwent an extensive Gh¢30 million renovation and modernization, culminating in its commissioning by President Akufo-Addo on July 4th, 2023. Originally established in 1991 and opened in 1992, the park had not undergone any renovations since its inception, leading to considerable deterioration. The refurbishment aimed to restore the park to its former glory and enhance its appeal to tourists, both locally and internationally.